The Jambalaya News December 2017

December 2017

Bayou Living Publication

SLAC Commemorates 30 Years of Service to the Community

Traveling The Backroads Celebration Champagne Cupcakes Life on My Terms Charleston Bistro’s New Wine & Dessert Bar

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Holidays & A Happy New Year Dining Guide | Events | The New Year | Recipes | Hunting & Fishing | Society Spice & More…

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SERVING ALL OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

a Word From …

family get together at Christmas just my children will fill my house up! I love to cook and feeding my children during the holidays is one thing I really enjoy!

Every Christmas Eve I’ve always let the kids open one present. It is always pajamas and a pair of slippers! That way they wake up Christmas morning in their new pajamas and open their Christmas day presents!

Christmas day is always filled with much food and a house full of children! These days it has started to include grandchildren, though only two at this time, these numbers will multiply in the future and the memories will only get better as time passes!

New Year’s Day I love to get fireworks for the children after a day filled with a wide verity of food! New Year’s food tradition, for me, always depends on the weather. If it’s warm out, I’ll usually grill outside, if it is cold out I’ll do the traditional cabbage and beans with a nice pot roast! Every year is always different when it comes to the new year, depending on the weather.

Weather in Louisiana is never quite the same when it comes to Christmas and New Years. This past December it snowed! Wow! How crazy was that? We had snow on the ground in Southwest Louisiana for a whole day! What a wonderful Christmas it will be for us! Because all of us in Louisiana are completely in the Christmas spirit due to this season’s snow!

This issue I’ve decided to add some snow pictures from our readers to keep that Christmas spirit alive! I’ve printed some of our best entries, but honestly, they were all wonderful! I’d like to thank everyone who sent in their snow pictures for consideration to be placed in the magazine! Every one of them made me smile and I wish I could have printed them all!

On another note … in the last few months I’ve had to spend some time in the Big Easy (New Orleans). My youngest will be having a minor surgery there next year.

Even though it is a minor surgery, it is still scary for any parent to be a part of! I’ve had many prayers and well wishes from my Facebook fans and I appreciate them all. It really means a lot to me and my family!

Spending time in New Orleans has been a wonderful experience for my family. Each time we are there I make sure to bring the kids to all the Audubon attractions in the area. We also enjoy experiencing some of the dining in the area and New Orleans has a lot to offer in this department!

New Orleans is a great family experience for me and my family each time we are there!

I am working on a giveaway for next year for one lucky family to go to New Orleans and enjoy what it has to offer!

Details can be found on the contest page in our January 2018 issue! What can I say? I love my readers and we want to give one lucky winner a wonderful experience in Louisiana’s most popular city, New Orleans!

I wish all my readers a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! We look forward to the new year with you all!

Delta Dawn

It’s been a great year for The Jambalaya News! Lots of hard work, effort and time has been put into our magazine. Early next year we will be changing our name back to the Bayou Living Magazine (my previous publications name)! We look forward to combining both publication styles to meet all of our reader’s needs! By taking the old paper Jambalaya biweekly into a glossy monthly magazine! It’s going to be a wonderful combination for all involved!

I enjoy hearing each one of your stories and how much everyone loves the magazine! I hope the new year will be a great year for all of our readers and advertisers alike! We will be working hard to bring you the best content available continuing to bring you what you want to read in 2018 from The Jambalaya News & Bayou Living Magazine combined!

This year has been a year of experimental endeavors, leading to a new year filled with everything you want to see within the pages of our upcoming issues in 2018! We always look forward to hearing from every one of our readers and we appreciate the interaction from all of you.

As this year comes to a close and a new year approaches, I hope you will all be able to reflect on a wonderful year past and you will all look forward to a prosperous new year! It’s that time of year when we all set new goals that we’d like to see happen in our upcoming year! I know I’ve got lots of goals I’d like to meet and many changes I’d like to see take place.

Losing weight always seems to top my list these last few years! So, my number one personal agenda is to get fit in 2018! Getting fit is no easy task! Time and dedication is required and sometimes it’s hard to set aside enough time when you have a busy daily routine and schedule! So, prioritizing must be key in order to make the time it requires in order to get fit and lose that unwanted weight!

My number one goal in my professional life is to continue to bring a wonderful publication to my readers while expanding my readership area! We’ve started expanding already in 2017 and many more readers are already enjoying our publication every month! Continuing to expand our coverage area is our number one goal for 2018.

Each year for Christmas there is always turkey, ham and many different Cajun side dishes on my table. When I have a The Jambalaya News

Delta Dawn

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Bayou Living Magazine, LLC December 2017

December 2017 …. VOLUME 9 …. ISSUE NUMBER 9

630 West Prien Lake Road, STE B #301 Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 Phone: 337-348-2958 www.bayoulivingmagazine.com

Publisher Dawn Miranda Hughes-Daley jambalayanews@gmail.com

Contributing Editors Lauren Abate

Contributing Writers Bill Elliot Dawn Miranda Hughes-Daley Dorothy Hughes Dominique Dugas Luke Eddleman Jackie Tabor Jade Harrington Marilyn Brunt Nicole Shuff Arabie Paige Vidrine Tiffany Casey Russell Pawlowski

Contributing Photographers Dawn Miranda Hughes-Daley Dorothy Hughes Marilyn Brunt Tiffany Casey

Sales jambalayanews@gmail.com heatherhughes808@gmail.com joshdaniel4544@gmail.com jambanews.keith@gmail.com jambanews.megan@gmail.com

Graphics Art/Production Director

COVER STORY 22

SLAC Commemorates 30 Years of Service to SWLA

IN THIS ISSUE 4 6 8 10 11 12 14 16 18 20 24 25 28 30 32 34 40 42 44

A Word From Delta Dawn Contest Guide & Winners Note From Dorothy All Things Football Game Day & Tailgating Pics Sportsman Bragging Rights Page Sportsman Bragging Rights Page Sportsman Bragging Rights Page Drop the Habit in 2018 Life On My Terms Astonishing Tales Astonishing Tales Roll—On Soul Matters Memorial Hospital Traveling The Backroads Champagne Cupcakes There Once Was a Kitchen Table Cookin’ With Chef Redhead

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Dining Guide & THE SPICE OF LOUISIANA 45 46 48 57 58 60 62 64 66 68 69 70

Dining Guide Cover Charleston Wine & Dessert Bar Dining Guide Spice Cover Louisiana Snow Day Pics Society Spice The Buzz Events DIY: with Jaderbomb Dogs of Louisiana Funbalaya Word Search & Tic-Tac-Toe The Poker Lady - Poker Lingo

Dawn Miranda Hughes-Daley Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by The Jambalaya News Columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Jambalaya News, its editors or staff. The Jambalaya News is solely owned by Dawn Daley, published by Bayou Living Magazine, LLC, 630 W. Prien Lake Rd., STE B #301, Lake Charles, LA 70601. Phone 337-348-2958.

While every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publisher cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. Copyright 2017 The Jambalaya News / Bayou Living Magazine, LLC all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

December 2017 Bayou Living Magazine, LLC

CONTENTS

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Win Cash & Prizes …

Find the Blonde Bomber’s Necklace The

The Blonde Bomber is a local retired professional boxer. He can be found punching thru ads in The Jam to help you get a prize. Find the Blonde Bomber’s red boxing glove in one of the ads & TEXT 337-348-2958 to claim your chance to win this months prize. Include your full name, page number and ad description. Drawing will be held on the 5th of each month. To earn extra entries in the drawing each month like and follow us on our social medias & rate us on Facebook. For each social media you follow us on you will get and extra entry! Winner will receive A $50 Gift certifi-

cate to dine at a restaurant of your choice.

Blonde Bomber has lost his necklace. Can you help him find it? He’s been wearing this necklace since he was 16 years old, it’s a lightning bolt with the letters TCB on it. Do you know what TCB means? Taking Care of Business and the lightning bolt symbolizes: in a flash. Elvis wore a necklace just like this one. Thankfully only the lightning bolt charm is lost. It’s important that he finds it … he’s lost it somewhere within the pages of The Jam, probably in one of the ads. If you find it please TEXT 337-348-2958 with details on where he can find it (page number, ad description and where in the ad).

Leave your name when texting for the reward of $100. A Drawing will be held the 5th of each month and one lucky winner will be chosen. You MUST FOLLOW & LIKE

us on Facebook to win this prize.

The Jambalaya News @jambalaya_news

Bayou Living Magazine The Jambalaya News @bayoulivingmagazine & Bayou Living Magazine

Find the Eye-Of-The-Tiger and you could win the prize of the month! When you find the eye of the tiger Text337-348-2958 and list the page number & ad you found it within along with your name! Follow us on Facebook for extra entries. This month we are giving away a $50 gift certificate to Honey B Ham in Lake Charles, LA! Sara Penn of Crowley won a $50 gift card to Los Patrillos in Jennings, LA for finding the eye of the tiger in the LCT ad on page 17 in our November issue. Try your luck!

Find the Blonde Bomber’s Necklace.

—————— Allie Gaspard of Jennings, LA was our November winner. She won $500 for finding the lightning bolt necklace charm in the First Federal ad on page 31. You could be our next winner, find the lightning bolt necklace charm and TEXT 337 - 348 - 2958 with the page number, what ad you found it in, where it is located in the Ad along with where you picked up your copy of the Jam & your Full Name. If you are correct your name will go into our monthly drawing.

We will Be drawing live on Facebook! You will have 15 minutes to return our call. We will choose another Winner until winner is chosen! GOOD LUCK!

Find the Blonde Bomber’s Boxing Glove …

Elyssa Ramos of Lake Charles was our November winner. She won a $50 gift card to Honey-B Ham. She found the boxing glove in the Honey B Ham ad on page 3. You could be our next winner, find the boxing glove and TEXT 337 - 348 - 2958 with the page number, what ad you found it in, where it is located in the ad along with where you picked up your copy of The Jam & your Full Name. If you are correct your name will go into our monthly drawing. GOOD LUCK!!

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Call Today

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ART in ACADIANA ~ The Lafayette Experience

ists, craftsmen, photographers, and artisans of various talents as they exhibit works and demonstrate their methods to the public over a two-day weekend.

2017 has seen a doubling in numbers of participants from the previous year! And, I was delighted to be invited as a participating photographic artist, with my framed works and prints being included at the Simon Little Fine Art Gallery & Studio 1115 in Morse, Louisiana – a working-studio in a rural setting, surrounded by nature and farmland, it has been a place of creativity for Ms. Little for many years. A place where she has practiced the amazing art of glass blowing, pottery, jewelry-making, painting in numerous mediums, and where she has conducted educational workshops.

With the combined talents of Simone Little, Harold Letz, Tony Roo, Zoe Fortier and Jerry Baker, I enjoyed a wonderful weekend of meeting our many visitors who showed terrific support for all we had done to make the exhibit happen!

Following the exciting weekend of “the tour” – ART WALK took place on December 9th!!! It was an exciting night in Downtown Lafayette and my initiating participation was at the gallery of Cajun Spice at 535 Jefferson Street – exhibiting my photographic works alongside the textiles and watercolor work of Simone Little and the mosaic works of gallery owner and artist, Melissa Dronet.

Two exhibits within a three-week time frame was a feat that took all my energy and concentration, but it was well worth the time and work involved in pulling it off. It provided a wonderful opportunity to expand my horizons and test the waters in another area – Lafayette, Louisiana!

November 18th and 19th was the weekend set aside by the Louisiana Crafts Guild for the Open Studio Tour of Acadiana. Sponsored by the Louisiana Crafts Guild and partnered with the Lafayette Art Association, the Lafayette Conventions and Visitors Commission, the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, and Right Angle Advertising, this exciting event featured a vibrant mix of talented artists and craftsmen. Participation for the tour has exploded this year with 77 artists showing and demonstrating their creative talents, welcoming the public to their 26 locations, ranging from Morse to Lafayette and on to Washington!

Begun in 1971 by Acadiana artists of the day – which included George Rodrigue – this art-infused event has enjoyed a return to its original concept, with participating studios opening their doors to the public and showcasing guest art-

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Bayou Living Magazine, LLC December 2017

From the moment doors were open to the public until the end of this wonderful evening, everyone inside this sweet little space – with the tall ceilings of pristine white paint on embossed vintage tin – was treated to a fellowship of artgoers from all parts of the globe.

A new experience for me, I quickly discovered how enthusiastic a 2nd Saturday ART WALK crowd can be in Downtown Lafayette! So many people came out to explore the Downtown Lafayette Cultural District – the streets buzzing with vendors setting up on the streets and each independent gallery, studio and art house with their doors open to a steady

flow of visitors comprised of casual shoppers, serious collectors, and those who came out to simply enjoy an evening for the arts.

Our guest books were signed by people we met of all ages – from Youngsville to Malaysia and so many other places in between. Places like France, England, Georgia, California, Bangladesh, and Columbia. All with fascinating stories and conversation to add to the beauty of the evening! It was an experience I will not soon forget!

Dorothy Hughes

Writer Leif Pederen

December 2017

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The Jambalaya News

All Things Football

By Scott Haltzman

We are always looking to expand our sales team and are in need of experienced Sales representatives.

Want to be on our sales team?

Call Dawn today at 337-348-2958 ‌ or E-mail: jablayanews@gmail.com Come & be part of a winning team!

We offer higher sales commissions To our experienced sales reps.

Just a few thoughts as the football season comes to an end. On the FBS side, the 4-team playoff has been set. But is that really the 4 best teams? How do you know for sure? So, it came down to the eye test between Alabama and Ohio State, and the committee chose Alabama. But the only way to know for sure is for the 2 teams to play one another, to have the right to be selected to the Final Four of College Football. I'm not sure how many teams should be in the playoffs, but I think 8-10 sounds about right. And I like what I heard yesterday from Chris Landry of Landryfootball.com. Do away with the rankings until the end of the season. Then after all off the games have been played, then you'd be able to make an accurate assessment of how to rank the teams. Because now when the rankings come out so early, if you're ranked really low, it’s too hard to climb high enough to even have a chance to be in the discussion. Let's take Central Florida as an example. Undefeated season, yes. But who have they really played? So, a team like that, under the current system, will probably never have a chance to even make the playoff. But with an 8-10 team playoff, with at-large bids, then they at least have a chance to compete for the National Championship. At some point, I'm sure the powers that be will see the light.

Jimbo Fisher just signed a 10 year, 75-million-dollar contract with Texas A&M. The money in college football is ridiculous!! Some time back, some players from Northwestern University in Chicago talked about forming a Union to be able to have some rights, including pay for play. I'm not smart enough to know how to go about doing that. But what I see is the players have all the power. The players for Grambling refused to play a game some time back. I think it revolved around the conditions of their weight room, and if I'm not mistaken, the repairs were made. Can you imagine if before the National Championship, the players from both teams assembled, and refused to play the game, unless they were paid to play? Don't you think the fat cats that govern College Football would be moved to figure out some kind of way to filter, at least some of that 75 million dollars they're paying to Jimbo, to the players? Much like the playoff system, at some point I think there will be players being paid to play college football, which I think is only fair.

That's all for now. I've enjoyed sharing some of my thoughts will ya'll throughout the season, and look forward to sharing much more as the new season approaches. Want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

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All Pictures Gameday and tailgating ‌ You can share all your pictures with me by fakebook messenger or email ‌ jambalayanews@gmail.com

Ian Rodericks & his nephew at Saints Game.

Lylah Nawaz with her Dad at Saints Game.

December 2017

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Ed Azemas supporting the Saints.

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A True Hunter’s Paradise Kirk Daley & Nephew Mikko Daley with a 10 lb. Bass caught in Toledo Bend, LA.

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Bayou Living Magazine, LLC December 2017

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The Sportsman Bragging rights Page —

Chrystal Alcede cleaning her kill …

Jesse LaCasse … shows off his New Hampshire Trout.

Jordan LaPoint with her first deer.

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The Sportsmen Bragging rights —

Chantelle Leger shows off her Arkansas buck.

Matt Alexander shows of his big buck bow kill …

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Bradley LeJune shows of his 9 pt. …

Joshua Hebert shows off his 5 point bow kill …

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December 2017

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Dawn Daley 337-348-2958 The Jambalaya News

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December 2017

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The Jambalaya News

A Note from An

Entitled Child

Image by Emily Martindale

You want to give your kids everything. It’s a noble task. I don’t blame you. I was one of those kids whose parents did just that.

Oh, how magical my life was, up until high school was over and I had to enter the real world. Then the expectation, responsibility and judgment fell on me like a ton of bricks. I was suffocating trying to figure out where to go, what to do and who to become.

Oh, how bleak my once magical, easy, carefree life had become when I had to pay for my choices, when life really wasn't as easy as it was made out to seem. At a certain point, my parents threw me to the sharks, extending the occasional life line of course, and told me to swim. I could barely doggy paddle.

I was entitled, and I felt like life owed me something. Entitlement is poison draped as perfection. It sets you atop a mountain and suffocates you at altitude. Rich or poor, anyone can become entitled. There is no color or class that is immune to this phenomenon. It’s not about the exterior, what you have or don’t have. Entitlement is all about what you think you deserve. It is a mindset problem created, most likely by, good intentioned care givers.

Now that I am a mother, I am forced to make some pretty hard choices. What kind of life will I provide for my children?

What will I teach them? Quite honestly, not a day goes by in which I don’t want to spoil my children rotten. But I resist! There are a few things I note in my mind about the struggles I have faced climbing down from my entitled pedestal. These things help me to spot an entitled child or adult from a mile away and serve as a reminder of what direction I am trying to take with my kids. Here are the tale-tell signs: Desire. “I need.”, is a term entitled people interchange for the reality which is, “I want.” “I have no clothes.”, but the closet is full. “Life is hard.”, but they are driving around in a vehicle most people put on their bucket list. #future goals.

Entitled people think they deserve an upgrade on everything they possess, their clothes, their car, their job, their spouse. I didn't see the error in this behavior, until I to live with my choices without anyone coming to save me. Then I realized that I really didn't need the latest version of the iPhone, because my 2year-old phone with the cracked screen facilitated the same calls it did when it was a day old. I learned to be grateful for the The Jambalaya News

one friend that loved me unconditionally, instead of longing to be popular amongst people who barely cared about me. The ability to distinguish between a desire and a need is not as easy as it seems. Being satisfied with your blessings isn't easy when you don’t consider their value. It’s an everyday conversation I have with myself to make sure I am being responsible with my choices, appreciating my life and showing gratitude for the small things. That ability is something I want my children to get used to. Do I deny them every desire? No. But I also do not give into each and every want. When they tell me they “need” something, I quickly correct them. I want them to understand that wanting something isn't a bad thing, you just simply don’t want to get it confused with actually needing something. I am focused more on giving them experiences rather than things, so that they can grow up to be individuals who aren't always longing for material possessions. Dissatisfaction quenches any form of happiness a person could ever have. Valuing time over possessions is a nugget of wisdom many entitled individuals do not receive until time has run out.

Social Skills. Entitled Individuals are so self-centered they cannot see passed themselves. There was a man who had lost his arm in the war. He took his grandson to eat and was having trouble cutting through his own pancakes. A waitress came over to assist him in the simple task, all while the grandson dug into his own plate. This is entitlement. Why should I inconvenience myself for someone else is an entitled person’s thought?

It is my goal to teach my children to serve others and to not expect to be served. This is a constant commitment, because children do in fact need a lot. They need to be fed. They need to be bathed. They need a lot of attention and affection, but there should be balance. It’s about teaching them to let their Nonna sit down, before they steal the seat. It’s about sharing, caring and loving others, regardless of how they are feeling. It’s not about you. That is the lesson entitled individuals learn the hard way.

Responsibilities. What’s important in life is lost on an entitled adult. They will sit and play on their phone for hours then complain about how they don’t have enough time. My goal is to make sure that my kids learn, in my house, things that they will not learn in school. I do not sugar coat the reality of life for my children. The importance of work ethic, staying productive and taking care of chores is engrained in our lifestyle. Responsibility is not something we shy away from.

People who are entitled will procrastinate and do all they can to push their responsibility on the back burner. They feel unfortunate when their to do list grows. A productive individual’s motto is that it is better to be busy than bored. That is the type of person that I am trying to raise.

Self-Reliance. Entitled kids have a hard time doing anything without assistance. Helping a child every single time they scream or cry for something is where this all starts. There was a twelve-year-old girl that walked into a little gathering and pulled her aunt to the side. She asked her to make her a cup of coffee.

The Aunt says, “I made you bottles and now I am making you coffee.” This need for help on small or large tasks is an entitled child’s mentality.

I got into an unhealthy relationship. Getting out of it was harder than anything else I have ever had to do. I fell into the deepest depression and I was just waiting on someone to save 20

Bayou Living Magazine, LLC December 2017

me. I expected my mom or dad to sweep in as they always had and just kiss my boo boo. After a year of feeling sorry for myself, I finally realized that no one was coming. I wasn’t going to all of the sudden make a ton of money and become some successful entrepreneur out of the blue.

When I put away the self-pity and stopped letting life just happen, that is when I started seeing my potential come to life.

When I stopped relying on the mom and dad lifeline, I really started to come into my own space. Now, when they offer me tools to get ahead in life, I don’t waste them frivolously. That is the strength and confidence I want to offer my children.

So, when my kids have a hard time doing something, I make them try and try and try some more. Of course, I offer help when it is truly needed, but I guard against over doing it. This takes a lot of patience and it’s hard for me to restrain from saving my babies from every little thing. At the end of the day, I am trying to create young adults who can survive without me.

Self-Restraint. Entitled individuals do not know when to stop.

There was this woman who would get herself into financial trouble time and time again, knowing she could run to her mother to feed her needs. She would make mistakes in life willfully, not ever thinking of the consequences. Entitled people develop bad habits and never see their fault. They lose sight of any type of moral, physical or emotional standards because they just simply never needed them. They deserve to feel pleasure and will feed that desire even at their own detriment.

This is a terrible flaw, because the instant gratification received from indulgence outweighs the idea of finally having to

December 2017

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face the hard truths. Over eating causes disease. Loose morals cause emotional burdens. Financial irresponsibility can destroy dreams, goals and even lives. Entitled individuals cannot see this until it is far too late. Then, in order to cope with their irresponsibility, they throw their standards out the window. It’s a rollercoaster ride that’s hard to get off of.

Teaching a child to delay gratification is not as easy as it seems. Do you want one cookie now or two later? Almost always, you will have to make that choice for them because they will not see the benefit at a young age. Teaching them to wait patiently for good things in life is a gift you will give them that will stick with them forever. It takes a ton of restraint on the parent’s part to not give in to every request, to not over do it, to not over indulge a child’s desire. It is wonderful to see your child smile and be happy, but don’t create a false sense of happiness for them by instilling long term damage.

Course Correction. Entitled people have no idea how to course correct. They have a hard time saying, “Okay. I have screwed up. How do I make this right?” Teaching my children to apologize, to admit when they are wrong and to fix it is my ultimate goal. Entitled people have gotten away with blaming others for their mistakes, that they use this as a crutch to soften the blow of reality. Instead of taking ownership for their poor choices, they will blame their parents for not doing a good job parenting. They will blame their spouse for not loving them the way they wanted. They will blame their boss for their poor performance. In reality, you are responsible for your mood, your happiness, your good fortune.

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Southwest Louisiana AIDS Council Thirty Years of Service to the Community 1987 – 2017

tive Director of SLAC. “Side effects from those early medications have decreased as well – we no longer see the facial wasting, severe vomiting and bone deterioration that was caused from those harsh medications in the early years. Today, the disease is treatable and can be managed like any other chronic disease providing people have access to testing, HIV care, and medications.”

However, HIV continues to significantly impact the most vulnerable of society. It is quickened by poverty, the lack of education, systemic racism, HIV criminalization laws and stigma. Over SLAC’s 30 year history and with the help of Ryan White funding, programs and services have expanded that address other co-occurring factors that impede access to care and improve health outcomes for people with HIV. These services address housing instability, mental illness and addiction issues, health illiteracy, and offer support in navigating a complex health care system.

The Ryan White Care Act and the Advocacy of Jeanne White-Ginder

Photo: Don Beard (left), one of the original charter members, Terry L. Estes (center), Executive Director of SLAC, and Peter Stevens (right), founder of SLAC. The Southwest Louisiana AIDS Council is commemorating 30 years of providing services to people living with HIV in SWLA. The organization was founded in 1987 by a local attorney, Peter Stevens. Stevens had a law professor at LSU who encouraged him to get training through the NO AIDS Task Force in New Orleans. As a result of that training, he started working with the American Red Cross in Baton Rouge. When he finished law school, he took a job in Lake Charles and began educating the community by providing information that he kept in the trunk of his car. Shortly after, with a small group of friends meeting in their living rooms, they began to form a grass roots effort toward creating an organization that would provide education and services to the people in Southwest Louisiana.

Don Beard, one of the original charter members and who is today employed at SLAC, also went to the Red Cross training in Shreveport. “The early days were dark days,” he recalls. “We cared for friends who were sick, who did not have the benefit of the medications we have today, and who ultimately died. Many a night I spent caring for a friend.”

Stevens took a small personal loan to get the agency started.

“When I began to get the program going, I knew that there were those who would need direct care, those who would need medications, and that the community needed education about the disease and how to prevent transmission,” he says.

“There was a sense of urgency about it all, too, as people who were diagnosed then were given six to 18 months to live.”

Today, people are living longer and better lives in large part due to the advances in medication therapies. “Where once a cocktail of 25 pills was required, today three medications can be combined into one,” says Terry L. Estes, ExecuThe Jambalaya News

Photo: Ms. Jeanne White-Ginder (Ryan White’s Mother).

SLAC would not be in existence today were it not for the Ryan White Care Act. Ryan White (December 6, 1971 – April 8, 1990) was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States, after being expelled from middle school because of his infection. A hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment and, when diagnosed in December 1984, was given six months to live.

Doctors said he posed no risk to other students, but AIDS was poorly understood at the time, and when Ryan tried to return to school, many parents and teachers rallied against his attendance. A lengthy legal battle with the school system ensued, and media coverage of the case made Ryan a spokesman for AIDS research and public education.

Due to the persistent advocacy and activism of Ryan, his mother Jeanne, celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John and Magic Johnson, the LGBTQ communities, as well as concerned family members, friends and citizens, the U.S. Congress passed a major piece of AIDS legislation that was enacted shortly after Ryan’s death on August 18, 1990. The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency 22

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(CARE) Act was named in honor of him. Ryan White grant funding is provided to states and territories to improve the quality, availability, and organization of HIV health care and support services.

Grant recipients include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the five U.S. Pacific Territories.

Ryan’s mother, Jeanne White -Ginder, became a key player in the AIDS health crisis in the 1980s and today continues Ryan’s legacy of education and compassion. Ms. WhiteGinder was in Lake Charles December 7 and 8 to commemorate SLAC’s 30th anniversary by spending time with people living with HIV in SWLA, and meeting staff and volunteers who have supported the agency over its 30 year history.

Stats & SLAC Services There have been 1,513 cumulative cases of people living with HIV in SW LA, public health region 5 which includes Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes. There are currently 1,070 persons currently living with HIV in region 5; 640 people are currently provided services by SLAC with medical services provided by the Comprehensive Care Clinic located on the Moss Memorial Health Clinic campus.

The SLAC HIV continuum of care includes counseling, testing and referrals; linkage and navigation services; primary medical care and specialized HIV care; ophthalmology and eye care; psychiatry, outpatient mental health and substance use counseling; medical and non -medical case management including health insurance enrollment; treatment adherence counseling, health literacy and pharmacy; nutrition and food pantry, as well as oral health and medical transportation services. HIV information and education is available to the community at large as well as prevention services that includes PrEP (Pre-Exposure December 2017

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Prophylaxis), the use of anti-HIV medications that keep HIV negative people from contracting HIV.

SLAC is located at 425 Kingsley St. in Lake Charles.

For more information on testing or access to care, please contact (337) 439-5861.

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Carnival Isn’t Just About Dressing Up – It’s About Changing Your Shape Carnival in New Orleans Has Always Been a Spectacle, But One Local Entrepreneur Found a Way to Make It a Way of Life for Her, And A Lucrative Business – Written by Ragan Wicker, Contributing Columnist for The Astonishing Tales Digital Magazine

When I think about what really makes me light up and glow, I think about Carnival!

I think about its ancient origins.

I think about how our city gets to tap into the freedom of expression that costuming gives us. Considering how many parties and shows that end up getting penciled onto my social calendar every year, I really think a lot about what I am going to wear.

It’s a high probability that I dress up at least 7 different times each Carnival season, and each time I have to ask myself, “Who do I want to be?”

My “obsession” (or affinity) with Carnival started in 1993 when I was 18 years old. I was invited to my first pri-

vate costume ball hosted by a mystic Krewe, and it absolutely changed my life.

That night was a fast and furious lesson in role playing and archetypal transformation that let me know beyond a doubt that we are not the clothes that we wear, any more than we are the roles we play. We are truly beings of infinite potential that can be whomever we want to be.

Ragan Wicker, co-founder of Carnival Couture, and Carnival Hedonist Years later, I wrote my Master’s thesis on women’s roles in nineteenth century Carnival in New Orleans.

I found that in much of the modern history that discusses the city during the 1800s, women were thought of as only having secondary roles in public rituals, and were mostly seen as spectators rather than active participants.

Well, I knew in my guts that this was certainly not the case in this city and I was going to blow that theory out of the water.

It was not hard to find plenty of examples in the city’s archives of how women of all types rocked New Orleans’ carnivals; women of all ages, all economic levels, and all ethnicities. Women absolutely and integrally shaped the largest and longest lasting public party in this country, and I was here, and hell bent on following that long standing tradition.

In 2009, my favorite local music club and place of work for 13 years now, the Maple Leaf Bar, home to the carnival Krewe of O.A.K., made me their Queen. It was a great honor bestowed on me by the community. I was now feeling the history that I wrote about envelope me into it.

Since my first taste of carnival, I have enthusiastically invested a great deal of time in making and collecting costumes. I focus on old and handmade pieces that can revamp the plainest of people into the prettiest of ponies, or the sexiest of beasts into grotesque unrecognizable creatures.

I developed a strange and wonderful wardrobe that could dress up dozens of people on any given day. And after years of searching and collecting all of those random parts and pieces, I had a vision.

We had a vision.

Just an example of one of Carnival Couture’s elaborate headdresses….

One of my dearest friends and partners in crime, Jill, along with myself, spearheaded a group costume theme.

We were to become a flock of strange birds and that meant strange feather head pieces.

So, we grabbed our plumes and went to work, and that was the beginning of our company Carnival Couture.

Since then, we have made hundreds of headdresses for people ranging from individuals, to Kings and Queens of mystical Krewes, to whole floats of women riding in the Muses parade.

We have been in newspapers, part of pop up events, and are now proud members of the New Orleans Costume Center Guild with it’s fabulous store full of fun frills on Royal Street in the Marigny.

If carnival time teaches us anything as it is celebrated around the world, it is that we can each be anything we want to be, and I found that what I want to be is a shapeshifter!

If shapeshifting interests you too, check us out

at carnivalcouture.com, on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/CarnivalCoutureNewOrleans/ , and on Instagram as carnivalcouturenola

I’m The Astonishing Ragan Wicker, Co-Owner of Carnival Couture and Contributing Columnist for The Astonishing Tales Digital Magazine and I Festively Approve This Message!

You can read more Astonishing Tales by going to: www.theastonishingtales.com

Home in Your Hands: Bath Bombs, Soaps and Candles, Owned and Operated by A Strong, NOLA-Based Female Entrepreneur

A Local Bath and Body Works Company Called NOLA SOAKS Puts the Feeling of Home Right in Your Hands – Written by K.M. Woods,

Contributor for The Astonishing Tales Digital Magazine

Anyone from New Orleans will tell you that they are not shy about where they come from.

For the city’s residents, the word ‘home’ is equally as associable, if not more so, than the themes that make our city so unique.

While boiled crawfish, Saint’s football, or Mardi Gras all have their stage when the season comes around, “New Orleans is my home,” you’ll hear on the streets year-round.

Yet, while anyone traveling about may tell people, “New Orleans is my home,” everyone has their own experience of home. When you walk through the door of your parent’s house this holiday season, something’s going to hit your senses and let you know that you are back at home.

The comfort that it hasn’t changed; the sounds of music you grew up to blaring through the speakers. The picture on the mantle of your brother smiling, missing all but two of his teeth. The smell of your mom’s cooking, perforating from the kitchen.

Meet Monique Woods, New Orleans native and owner and founder of NOLA SOAKS, a local bath and body works company with a true, heart-felt objective….

Well, about a year ago (while my home didn’t change), the smells coming from the kitchen sure did, but you won’t find me complaining.

At 43 years old, my mom, Monique Woods, decided she

was going to start her own business and became the creator and founder of NOLA SOAKS BATHBOMBS. While I couldn’t have been happier that she was starting her own business, I couldn’t help but wonder…why?

“Well, I wanted to be home, because my youngest is about to graduate,” she said.

But bath bombs?

“I used to buy them as gifts, and they were expensive.

So, I looked at the ingredients on the back of the package and thought, well I can make them better than this, and more affordable.”

What started as a simple Facebook page that offered four different scented bath bombs of three different sizes, has now grown into a household bath boutique that offers a wide selection of handmade soaps, candles, and bath bombs, all which capturing the originality only New Orleans can offer.

They carry everything from Café’ au lait or King Cake scented candles, bars of soap designed as a Streetcar, and bath bombs of ten different scents designed as Fleur di Lis or Snoballs.

“My favorite of each…I’d say the Vanilla Pomegranate Bath Bomb, the King Cake Candle, and the Soap of the St. Louis Cathedral,” said Monique Woods, founder and owner of Nola Soaks. “That soap just comes out so pretty.”

And while fresh scents and detailed soaps separate these bath products from others, what the business offers, aside from a unique product, is true personal service. Each product is made to order with her own hands.

“Everything is handmade and high quality. I speak to every customer I have, and I listen to their feedback.

The product is custom made per person,” Woods explained.

But Monique’s goals go beyond simply running a small business. While there are professional hopes of having these products in boutiques across the city, she sees her business

as a great opportunity to give back to an issue that’s extremely close to her.

“I want to give back. You have to, so portions of our profits go to the Joyful Heart Foundation. They help women who are victims of sexual abuse.”

The Joyful Heart’s mission is to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivor’s healing, and end this violence forever.

In a time where issues, such as sexual assault, are at the forefront of our media, knocking at the door of true change for the better, the voices and contributions of female entrepreneurs can be heard and make a true difference.

Voices to inspire. Voices to Astonish.

I asked my mother, what advice she’d give to women, or anyone really, who thought or planned to start their own business.

“Know your goal, and know you will make mistakes.

But keep at it, and keep learning. It will be very rewarding in time.”

Ultimately, the reasons for starting her business, just in what I can gather from talking to her, are the same as her reasons for doing everything else. Her family. No matter where you come from, nothing makes home more home than your family itself.

“They keep me motivated and they’re my biggest supporters.”

For more info or pictures of me mum’s products you can visit her Facebook Fan Page for NOLA SOAKS or visit the business web page NOLA SOAKS.

I’m The Astonishing K.M. Woods, Contributor for The Astonishing Tales Digital Magazine, and I Approve This Message.

Monique Woods

The Jambalaya News

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Bayou Living Magazine, LLC December 2017

NEW ORLEANS — Mississippi View— French Quarter 2 Bedroom Apartment Book this quaint apartment for your next stay in New Orleans! Fully stocked with everything you need to feel right at home! Full kitchen stocked with everything you need to make a home cooked meal (pots, pans, dishes & utensils)! Perfect for Mardi Gras season … book your stay now!

541 Decatur St. New Orleans, LA 1-504-309-7902

Contact Ed Ezemas for booking information at: 504-957-5490

537 Decatur Street New Orleans, LA 1-800-992-9699

We’ve got all your Mardi Gras needs covered.

Roll-on How Roll Helped Bring Miranda Collins Back to Herself Miranda Collins found Roll in the midst of one of the toughest times of her life. Read on to see how Roll brought her back to herself.... her best -self, so far.

At 205 lbs. and 1 month after finally breaking free of an abusive, toxic relationship, I found Roll through a friend.

She posted an Acai Power Bowl, so I went to the studio to try one and when I walked in, the first thing I saw was Ms. Jackie's smiling face. Her positive energy filled the room and she gave me a tour while my Acai Bowl was being made. I mentioned to her that I could never do something as intense as indoor cycling and she told me "You don't have to be nervous, you can do absolutely anything you put your mind to and you should definitely try this." As we were talking the song "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding came on. It was my late father's favorite song....so I took it as a sign.

As soon as I left that day I signed up for a year so that I could not back down.

Kendrea was the instructor for my first 3 classes. Miranda Collins and her Roll Results …. Before and After ...

I struggled to make it through them and even questioned my strength and why I was trying to better myself. The music she used and the beautiful words she preached made me feel like I was the only one in the room. It was like she was speaking specifically to me. I was thankful it was dark in there because I cried non-stop through those first few rides. One day she said, "The only one you have to be good enough for is yourself" and it stuck with me. Slowly I began improving and realizing my strength and started to believe in myself.

“Unleash Your Inner Rockstar”

It took 5 classes before I could even stand up on 2801 Ryan Street, Ste 800 the bike. Within 2 months of pushing just hard Lake Charles, LA 70601 enough and focusing on being better than I was the 337-429-5260 class before, I could finally stand and do everything www.roll-indoorcycling.com the instructor said. This time I was crying happy tears. I was so proud and felt like I had found myself again. In just 5 weeks I had lost 18 lbs. I have to say the juices (Cool Breeze, Watermelon, & Unicorn Blood) along with the Eucalyptus Towels have been my lifeline on many days.

With 154 rides under my belt and 59 pounds gone (in 10 months), I look and feel better than ever. I'm forever grateful to the Roll community for bringing me back to me.

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Carl W. Churchman, Jr. D.D.S. General Dentistry 3640 Common St. Lake Charles Phone: 337-478-5070 Call For Your Appointment Today.

Mary Seale Churchman, D.D.S. Katie Courville Roberts, D.D.S. General Dentistry 3632 Common St. Lake Charles Phone:337-478-4022

We’ve all had relationships where we are just sent on our way when conflict arrives instead of dealing with the issues that have surfaced. We’ve also probably have done the same.

What should happen is a change of heart and a change of our attitude. We haven’t been raised right and we aren’t raising our children right. We have been cheated and we are cheating. We have lost vision and commitment.

Soul Matters With Nicole Shuff Arabie

The Season of Believing All you have to do is BELIEVE. That’s really all there is to it.

That seems to be pretty simple, doesn’t it?

You can only give away what you already have inside of yourself. Giving happens when you are overflowing from the inside, and cannot help but share, when there is that much love within you that it has to flow out to others because there is no more room for it inside of you. There is no need to think about it, not with this type of sharing. It just flows out naturally. No force is needed to be kind, to love, to feel compassion. If you need to be forced, you've missed the first step of filling your own self with these emotions.

Many of us grew up without being taught how to deal with conflict. We instead have been taught to do things our own way, to just tolerate people, to fight for the wrong things or to hide our feelings and not talk about them. This has truly caused problems in our relationships When did the world we live in become a world of learning to just accept? We have learned to simply distance ourselves from one another. That seems to be acceptable: don’t deal with the conflict. We would rather just accept the discomfort rather than deal with the pain.

There are only two paths in our lives. One of them is the unwise path and the other is the wise path. The wise path is pure, peaceful, trusting, forgiving, loving, patient and humble.

The unwise path is a path of disorder, of just settling, of arrogance and lack of trust. It is unforgiving, foolish, fearful, doubtful, and survives on excuse after excuse.

We can’t change what has been done in the past, but we can create a new direction for what is to come. How do you want your children to grow up? Do you want them to grow up with what is inside of you? Do you want them to grow up with what this world looks like right now? How and what do you want them to be influenced by? What vision do you want them to be seeing? Would the vision be one of hope, love and being mindful, and desiring peace? Or would it be a vision of hate, despair, anger, fear, close-mindedness and being judgmental?

A seed of bitterness was planted by the enemy of our soul and we allowed it to root. This bitterness has spread, and we’ve let it take over. We moved into a place of no longer believing in healing. We no longer are willing to trust and submit. What that means is we no longer trust God. It’s all a sign of the lack of trust we now have.

We cannot teach our children a peaceful, non-violent way of living unless we are models of it ourselves. I do understand that there will always be conflict. That’s just part of life, but we need to ensure that this very important life tool is properly taught for all of us, as conflicts will continue.

Our purpose in life is to value faith, honesty, hope, kindness, forgiveness, and love, and to not get caught in the belief system that the way is through materialism and greed. We should be honest, to ourselves and to others, in all that we say, think and do. To live simply and accept responsibility for what we have done, and for what we’ve have not done. To forgive ourselves and others. To accept and learn from the mistakes that we have made. To strive to have the best of intentions, to be honest and true to what we believe. To live a life outlined by trusting God and to not cheat on God. When we cheat ourselves, we are cheating God. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.

Nicole Arabie Soul Matters

It is God’s will for us to fight the good fight when it comes to our relationships. What truly matters most in our lives?

What do you spend the most of your time focusing on? Do you ever notice that you stay closer to what matters the most to you? Our relationships will only be as good as we give them time to be. Think about your relationships and what may be missing in them. Is the heart missing? Is there restlessness and a lack of peace, or maybe the spirit of bitterness, doubt, resentment and jealousy?

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When Cucumber Slices Alone Won’t Help…

As we age, the skin becomes thinner and less firm and supple than it was in our youth. We are all familiar with this unfortunate fact of life, but for some people, sagging and heavy eyelids can be about more than looks, and can affect quality of life by impairing the field of vision.

Heavy, drooping eyelid skin – the medical term for which is dermatochalasis – can occur in people of all ages for different reasons, but it often becomes a bigger problem for people as they age. Dermatochalasis occurs when the skin of the eyelids becomes loose and redundant.

When this occurs on the upper eyelid, it can weigh the eyelid down, sometimes even obscuring vision.

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“When the eyelids begin to droop, either from the natural aging process or from genetically heavy eyelids, it can cause a number of problems such as vision obstruction and eye irritation,” said Dr. Hope Bueller, an ENT and facial plastic surgeon with Memorial Medical Group. “In some cases it can even cause some headaches from the forehead muscles working overtime trying to open the eyes wider to be able to see. “ In such cases, heavy eyelids create a functional problem rather than simply an aesthetic one. Fortunately, there is a procedure that can correct heavy eyelids and give patients a much clearer view.

“In these severe cases of dermatochalasis, we are able to perform a functional blepharoplasty to correct it,” Dr. Bueller said. “This procedure consists of removing excess skin on the eyelid, so that the eyelids are no longer weighed down. There is some swelling during the recovery process, which typically takes a few weeks, but patients tend to be very pleased with their new unobscured vision as well as their own appearance.”

If the cucumber slices are no longer helping and you would like more information on dermatochalasis and the steps to correct it, contact the office of Dr. Hope Bueller at 337.480.5595.

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Written and Photographed By Marilyn Pepper Brunt

As a fire crackles in the fireplace, I’m listening to Christmas Carols and a steady rain on the roof. I feel like I’m finally getting in the Christmas spirit. I find it really difficult to get into the spirit when it’s 80 degrees; it’s currently 37 degrees and getting colder. All Lafayette Parish schools and some surrounding school districts are anticipating a snow day tomorrow so all of the schools are closed for the day. Great news for the kids, but I had a trip planned to Baton Rouge to attend a jewelry market and now my plans might change. Change is a good thing but not around the holidays, if you know what I’m saying.

If most of you are like me, your calendar doesn’t allow for a “snow day” in South Louisiana. But I guess, it is what it is, so I’ll just deal with it.

It seems as though the entire month of November has been a blur. Between all the great festivals that I like to attend, birthday parties, weddings, unfortunate funerals, a huge Thanksgiving gathering including a surprise marriage proposal by Cullen Crochet to my niece Jenna Ray (she said “YES”), I’ve been steadily “Traveling the Backroads” to keep up with it all.

While everyone was maneuvering through Black Friday traffic and frantically trying to scoop up all the best deals, I was very content to be cruising on a luxurious new tri toon boat that my friends Steven and Gail Thibodeaux had just The Jambalaya News

purchased. It was a perfect day for cruising and enjoying all the jewel tone colors of the cypress trees along the bank of Lake Arthur.

The great weather continued throughout the weekend and I was delighted. I had planned a trip to Natchitoches (Nack-A-Tish), the oldest city in Louisiana, to see the Christmas Festival of Lights with my sister-in-law, Cheryl Brunt DuPree, who was visiting from Malawi, Southeast Africa. She and her husband, Kenn, are avid travelers and have lived all over the world while working in U. S. Foreign Service for the last 20+ years.

Kenn is contemplating retirement while Cheryl, on the other hand, is pursuing her dream of starting her own property management business. Although they have lived in some of the most exotic locations in the world, they still call Louisiana “home”! They even purchased property on Sibley Lake in Natchitoches and are anticipating residing there in the near future. We’ll be excited to have them nearby again.

Cheryl, my daughter Gigi and I departed from our lake house in Lake Arthur early on Saturday morning enroute to Natchitoches. As I drove north on La Hwy. 26 toward Elton then through the quaint towns of Oberlin, Oakdale and Glenmora, I was thankful not to be in the congested traffic in Lafayette. As I continued on my journey, I drove 34

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couldn’t wait to get started. Cheryl has been visiting Natchitoches for years, so she guided me through a few shortcuts. I wanted to share copies of The Jambalaya News with our northern neighbors, so I used this opportunity to do just that.

The Fleur de Lis Arts and Crafts Show was being conducted at the Natchitoches Events Center on this particular day. The excitement surrounding this event is contagious.

People of all ages attend in hopes of finding the perfect hand-made items for loved ones on their Christmas list.

Everyone was thrilled that JAM is now available in north Louisiana.

There is an exquisite boutique hotel that has been built across the street from the events center. The Chateau Saint Denis Hotel features all the charm and comfort that Natchitoches is famous for. The hotel derives its name from the French explorer, Louis Juchereau de Saint Denis, who in 1714 established Natchitoches making it the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. I highly recommend this as a great location to stay. Not only for its charm but also its proximity to everything in the Historic District.

You cannot visit Natchitoches without visiting Lasyone’s Meat Pies Restaurant. James Lasyone created this mouthwatering delicacy in the 1950’s and it’s still a Natchitoches favorite. I can attest to the fact that they’re the best I’ve ever eaten. We tried the ground beef and the crawfish pie that was introduced to the restaurant in 2008. Both are exceptional! We also tasted the Louisiana Cornfritters that are served piping hot with butter and honey. This almost felt sinful…it was as though we were eating dessert first! But I had no shame! Ha! The entire town was bustling with activity. I thought that the best place to get updated information about what Natchitoches has to offer was to go to the Natchitoches Visitor’s Information Center. We were graciously greeted

by Anne Cummings, Jean Carter and Heather Lockwood.

These lovely southern ladies were a wealth of information about their city. We received brochures and verbal instructions for exploring.

We strolled down the cobblestoned Front Street to the iconic Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile that has been in business since 1863. That’s correct, it’s been around for 154 years. I spoke at length with owners Lori and Luke Frederick. They informed me that the original owners were Jewish Prussian immigrants, Adolph and Harris Kaffie. Luke Frederick’s grandfather worked for the Kaffie’s and inherited the business when he died. Luke is the third generation of Fredericks to run this well-known establishment. Lori also informed me that in 1917, the store purchased its first cash register that ran by a hand crank! This register is phenomenal! It has four drawers and each employee had their own drawer that they were

through Forest Hill. This area is widely known for the thousands of acres of plants grown at numerous nurseries that thrive in the rolling hills. It’s also widely recognized

by ATV enthusiasts for its hilly terrain.

We merged onto I-49 and proceeded north through Alexandria enroute to Natchitoches. Immediately after we checked-in at the Hampton Inn, we quickly got back into my SUV and headed to the Historic District to get better acquainted with the city.

There is so much to see and do in Natchitoches that we December 2017

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held accountable for at the end of the day. They currently operate out of one drawer and the register still functions as well as it did 100 years ago. No computer can do that!

Almost all of the exterior and interior of the store is unchanged from its beginning years. In the 1890’s a freight elevator was installed which is still in use today, albeit now run by electricity. You can peruse the aisles for hours and never see everything they have to offer. They definitely have something for people of all ages.

My favorite thing to do is go to the second floor where they have a display of some of the most exquisite decorations and Christmas trees you will ever see! It truly is a Christmas wonderland!

We decided to take a walk down to the riverfront. It was recently redeveloped into amphitheater seating to accommodate the thousands of visitors that flock to the city to enjoy their annual display of over 300,000 lights and over 100-lighted displays.

For a nominal fee, boat tours are available on the Cane River as well as horse-drawn carriage rides throughout the city.

For all you sports enthusiasts, you’ll want to check out the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. It’s located along Front Street as well and is quite amazing!

One of the newer businesses that we discovered while walking along Front Street was the Cane River Candy Company, est. in 2017. Gigi was in “candy heaven”! Owner Halie Errington and her staff are just as sweet as the confections they sell. Their “Yummy” gumball wall mesmerized us all! We joked about licking the wall, it looked so enticing! Cheryl treated Gigi to a variety of delectable morsels as well as Dippin’ Dots ice cream. I anticipated a sugar-rush coming on!

The sun is starting to set and dusk falls upon the crowd gathered along the river’s edge. A walk across the bridge was a great opportunity to capture photos from a different perspective. I discovered that three of my grandchildren and their dad had driven in from Maurice LA earlier in the afternoon to see the lights and watch the fireworks display. I managed to meet up with Madison, Olivia, Sadie and Jared Bertrand and we enjoyed watching the fireworks together while seated on a blanket under the stars on the bank of the Cane River. What a priceless memory to create with them!

The fireworks were breathtaking and were enhanced by their reflection on the water. Food and beverage vendors kept everyone happy throughout the evening, as well as the band that was performing on the new stage. It was a magical evening!

Most of the crowd lingered after the fireworks but we had made reservation at Mariner’s Restaurant earlier in the day and we didn’t want to lose that.

Almost all of the streets of Natchitoches are festively The Jambalaya News

decorated for the holidays. It’s a joy to see the lights and it takes me back in memory to my early childhood when we drove down Main Street in Jennings to “ooh & aah” at the Christmas lights that were artistically hung from one street light to another. These simple pleasures are things that kids will always remember, not how many presents are put under the tree!

We arrived at Mariner’s and were greeted by Lyssa Taylor, owners Jennifer and Don Nichol’s daughter. This was such a great way to end our day. I ordered the Acadian Tilapia and it was excellent. The pristine white tablecloths and napkins were a nice touch. Our server Ethan was very attentive to our needs as we dined. Katie Baronne, another server, was very cordial as well.

As we departed, Lyssa thanked us for coming and even took photos with our Jambalaya New Magazine. She was excited to have a Southwest Louisiana magazine to share with her customers.

It was time to call it a day! Enroute back to our hotel, we enjoyed reminiscing about our fun-filled day and jokingly reminded Cheryl that she was not in Africa anymore!

It’s the start of a new day and we’re ready to travel more backroads. We went back to the Historical District to take more photos since the streets would be less crowded on a 36

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Sunday morning.

Nachitoches is famous for its unique bed and breakfast establishments. Some are grand plantation style homes like the Steel Magnolia House and the Sweet Cane Inn while some are Craftsman style and quaint and modestly priced. A common factor amongst all of them is the fact that they welcome everyone and in true southern style, will treat you like family.

A festively decorated gift shop on Front Street, Dickens & Company, garnered my attention as I was driving by and I had to stop. Owner Sandra Dickens had a whimsical tree in her front display window that was so adorable and fun. It was a white tree and it had elf legs sticking out from all sides. It was a pleasure meeting Sandra and getting to know more history about Natchitoches from a resident’s perspective. Her store is a treasure trove of giftware for all ages.

Before leaving Natchitoches, there was one more location that I wanted to visit. Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site is a 5-acre park located on Rue Jefferson. There is a wonderful interpretive center and a replica of the fort to explore. They offer visitors exhibits, live reenactments and demonstrations. Jeremy McCormic, an Interpretative Ranger for LA State Parks at the fort, took us on a tour. He was very thorough in his descriptions of life in the fort in the early 1700’s. I highly recommend a tour of the fort for all you history buffs out there.

We decided it was time to depart from Natchitoches and head back towards Lafayette. We drove past the enchanting Northwestern State University campus and proceeded toward I-49. It wasn’t long before I made another detour in search December 2017

Bayou Living Magazine, LLC

of Oakland Plantation that was built in the 1820’s. I’ve read about it and knew it was nearby.

Located along LA Hwy. 119 south of Natchitoches, it has been designated as a National Historical Landmark. This ranking will insure that the resources of Oakland Plantation will remain protected and accessible to the public.

Don Curtis, a 20-year retiree from Bull Shoals Arkansas, is a volunteer (along with his wife) for the National Park Service.

He obligingly gave us, and Bob Walter from Kansas, a behind the scenes tour of this extraordinary plantation home.

He told us about the unique glass bottle garden at the entrance to the home that consists of over 2000 bottles that line the pathways of the garden. If you plan to visit, I would check their website for times of tours. Make sure that you reserve enough time to see the 27 historic outbuildings, including pigeonniers (French spelling for a pigeon house), an outhouse, old barns, slave quarters and their general store.

You’re also going to want to tour the main house that is covered by 9000 sq. ft. of roof. The interior of the home is decorated with some of the original furniture and is magnificent!

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As I traveled farther down LA Hwy. 119, I decided to go in search of Magnolia and Melrose Plantations. I was happy that I did. As I rounded a curve I drove by an unusual sight.

I saw what appeared to be large, multi-colored Easter eggs in the distance. As I got closer, I was surprised to discover that the “eggs” were actually bales of freshly harvested cotton wrapped in pastel shades of plastic. They were about the size of round bales of hay that we see everywhere here in the south. There were hundreds of them. Naturally, I couldn’t get out of my seat belt fast enough to grab a few photos, like they were gonna disappear or something. Ha! It was a sight that I’ve never seen before and I was relishing the fact that I had traveled another backroad instead of traveling along the interstate.

Unfortunately, Magnolia Plantation was closed for the day, but I did manage to capture a few photos of some of the abandoned slave quarters. I will have to visit again at a latter date.

As I was traveling toward Melrose Plantation, I noticed a cloud of dust rising from a pecan orchard. Several workers were on tractors gathering the abundance of pecans on the ground…another photo op! Now you know why it takes me twice as long as it should to reach a destination! LOL I turned into Melrose Plantation and was immediately drawn to a hobbit-looking cottage on the grounds.

Nic Furguson and Bayleigh Smith gave me a sneak peek into the Weaver’s House. I was fascinated by the huge weaving loom and spinning wheel inside this historical cottage. I didn’t get to tour the home because they were closing for the day, but I’ll return and write about my experience in a future article.

As I was leaving, a pristine little white house and several outbuildings on the grounds fascinated me. The house belonged to the famed, self-taught, black folk artist Clementine Hunter and the century old barn appeared to be in great condition for its age. Since my visit, I’ve spoken with Molly Dickerson, Melrose’s Facility Manager, and I’ve been invited to return for a special tour. You can bet that I’ll follow through on that invitation.

Well, my journey has finally come to an end and I’m heading back towards Lafayette. Christmas Carols were playing on the radio and I chuckled as I listened to ‘Over the River and Through the Woods’ lyrics. If my grandchildren were The Jambalaya News

singing this song about me they would have to alter the words to say: “Over the river and through the woods with Grammy we go! She knows the way for “traveling the backroads” to have a great day…etc.!” LOL Well, at least, that’s what I hope they will remember about me long after I’m gone!

As I drive past all the beautiful hills and trees that line the highway I’m reminded of my freedom and how blessed I am to be able to enjoy this view and share it with all of you. Our California neighbors are not so fortunate, as they are battling the many fires that are ravaging their homes and beautiful hills. Please keep them in your prayers throughout the holiday season and thank God for your own blessings! Also remember our veterans that serve our country to insure our freedom.

My wish for all of you is that you will get to enjoy the holidays with your loved ones and will have a joyous new year.

Let 2018 be the year that YOU will “travel the backroads” and explore our beautiful country creating memories that will last a lifetime.

I will leave you with this quote:

It’s better to look back on life and say: “I can’t believe I did that.” than to look back and say: “I wish I did that.”

Thanks for following me “over the river and through the woods”! ~Merry Christmas & Happy New Year~ 38

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The Jambalaya News

December with a degree in Early Childhood Education.

She has been student teaching at Katherine Drexel Elementary in Broussard, LA and some of her students actually cried when they learned that she was leaving because she was graduating. She is very compassionate about the students she teaches, especially those with learning disabilities. I know she will be an excellent teacher and I’m so proud of her accomplishments!

She has been cooking from about the age of 8 years old and now routinely prepares many meals for her parents, Janet & Glenn Ray, as well as her 5 siblings. She loves baking and decorating cakes, cookies or cupcakes. Actually, she’s an excellent food artist; everything she cooks looks as great as it tastes.

This brings me to the fact that she loves to prepare these tasty Champagne Cupcakes and we thought we would share the recipe with you to use for your own celebrations in the future. They’re a multi-step process to make, but so worth it!

CHEERS to Jillian and her future! I know she will be successful in whatever she decides to do!

Celebration Champagne Cupcakes CAKE:

Celebration Champagne Cupcakes Featuring: Jillian Claire Ray Written and Photographed by: Marilyn Pepper Brunt

There are many milestones in everyone’s life to celebrate. Whether it’s celebrating a five-year anniversary with your boyfriend or being asked to be a bridesmaid in your sister’s upcoming wedding. Something else to celebrate would be graduating from college with honors or the beginning of a new career and the start of a new year.

My niece, Jillian Claire Ray, is celebrating all of the above.

She is quite an accomplished young woman and beautiful as well! What a combination…beauty and brains! Add to the fact that she is a very talented artist and can cook anything she sets her sights on.

Jill is graduating, Cum Laude I might add, from ULL this The Jambalaya News

½ cup butter softened 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1 ¾ cups flour ½ tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. salt ½ cup sour cream ½ cup champagne, prosecco or your choice of sparkling wine Preheat oven to 350 degrees In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix.

Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside.

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together ½ cup champagne and ½ cup sour cream (mixture will fizz and bubble a little). Add flour and champagne mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Batter will be thick.

Fill cupcake papers with ¼ cup level measures of batter.

Bake for 17-22 minutes. Makes 2 dozen. Set aside to cool.

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Remove from heat and beat in the butter and vanilla.

Cut a divot into the top of each cupcake and fill with the pastry cream. Trim the cutout cake pieces flat to make a “lid” and place on top of the filled divot.

CHAMPAGNE FROSTING: 1 cup plus 1 tbsp. champagne or prosecco 2 sticks of butter softened 2 ½ cups confectioners sugar (food coloring of your choice or leave white)

Place 1 cup of champagne in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium-high heat until reduced to 2 tablespoons.

Transfer to a small bowl or condiment cup and allow to cool.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream softened butter and powdered sugar together. Once the frosting is thick and fluffy, pour in the reduced 2 tbsp. champagne plus 1 tbsp. champagne from the bottle and mix well. If adding food coloring, now is the time to do that.

Frost the cream-filled cupcakes and decorate with dragees (an ornamental candy that can be found in any grocers baking section) of your choice.

These cupcakes are an excellent way to impress your friends at your next celebration or make them for your New Years Eve party and celebrate 2018. CHEERS! PASTRY CREAM FILLING:

½ cup heavy cream, divided ½ cup champagne or prosecco 2 tbsp. cornstarch 5 tbsp. granulated sugar 1 whole egg 2 egg yolks 2 tbsp unsalted butter 1 tsp. vanilla In a medium bowl, whisk cornstarch in ¼ cup of heavy cream. Combine the remaining heavy cream, sugar and ½ cup champagne in a saucepan: bring to a boil then remove from heat.

Beat the whole egg and egg yolks into the cornstarch/ heavy cream mixture. Pour 1/3 of boiling champagne mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly so the eggs do not cook.

Return the remaining champagne/heavy cream mixture to a boil. Pour in the hot egg mixture in a stream, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens.

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The Jambalaya News

Geaux Daube with a Classy Glacé for the Holidays

The terms 'Reveillon' and 'Holidays' are synonymous here in New Orleans. A tradition dating back to the early 19th century, "reveillon" (meaning "awakening" in French) is an elaborate celebrational, family-style dinner of good food and festive spirits served after midnight mass on Christmas Day. It is said that strict Catholics who were too fast until after morning mass on Christmas Day, decided that instead of actually waiting until Christmas morning to have mass, that a midnight mass would be a fantastic idea allowing them to stick to the Catholic church's strict guidelines while hurrying things along a wee bit...and that is how midnight mass came into fashion. Not kidding. Get in, get out, and feast! Leave it to the Catholics to figure out a way.

As a resident of the historic French Quarter, for over a decade now like so many native New Orleanians, my traditional Reveillon table contains many decadent dishes one of which is the quintessential Daube Glacé. It is a dish, like countless others in Louisiana, which unites both Creole and Cajun cultures by turning once humble ingredients into something elegant and timeless. What exactly is Daube Glacé? It is simple really. The best description is this: In the country or prairies of Louisiana Cajuns of yesteryear (still today) dote upon hog's head cheese - a mixture of remnant pork meat that has been cooked down for long periods of time using the head and feet of the hog, seasoned in its own natural gelatin and juices, then molded to form "cheese".

In the big city of New Orleans, Creole’s have their version Daube Glacé. This is merely the dressed up bovine version (only by the use of a proper French name) of a hog's head cheese. Daube is a French term which refers to that of a Provencal style beef pot roast or stew. A daube glacé, in its original form, was pieces of beef, from the feet and shin bones of the calf, cooked down, seasoned with vegetables, spices, and molded into a "cheese" using its own natural juices as well as its gelatin - same as its country counterpart, hog’s head cheese. Preserving meats in their own gelatin stems from a time long before refrigeration was ever conceived. By using the natural gelatins to preserve their meats, not only did this stretch the meal but it made use of the much-needed nutrients found in the proteins. There is sooo much to say for thriftiness.

There is also something to be said about a fancy name. It is quite comical to me to watch some turn their noses up to 'Hog's Head Cheese' but dive right into a 'Daube Glace' when given the choice.

Oh, what wicked tricks our minds will play on us if we let them.

I would love to hear from you. Please email me at ThereOnceWasAKitchenTable@cox.net with questions, requests, or just simply to tell me how I am doing.

The Jambalaya News

The makings of a daube glacé using two recipes from

The Picayune’s Creole Cook Book (in original format)

Beef a la Mode Daube.

Ingredients: 5 Pounds of the Rump or Round of the Beef. ¼ Pound of Salt Fat. Large Onions. 2 Turnips. 5 Carrots.

1 Tablespoon of Lard.

1 Clove of Garlic.

1 Glass of Sherry, Madeira, or Claret (if Desired).

Salt, Pepper, and Cayenne to Taste.

2 Bay Leaves.

Sprigs of Thyme and Parsley Cut the fat of the salt meat into thin shreds. Chop the onion and Bay leaf very fine, as also the garlic, thyme and cloves. Rub the shreds well with salt and pepper. Take the rump of beef and lard thickly by making incisions about three or four inches in length and inserting the pieces of salt fat and spices, onion and thyme and garlic, mixed thoroughly. Take two large onions and cut into quarters and put in a saucepan, with one tablespoon of lard. Let the slices brown and then lay on top of the rump of beef, well larded. Cover closely and let it simmer very slowly till well browned. Then add the chopped bay leaf and parsley.

When brown add five carrots cut into squares of an inch, and two turnips, cut in the same manner, and two large onions, chopped fine. Let the whole brown, keeping well-covered, and cooking slowly over a slow but regular fire. Be always careful to keep the cover very tight on the pot. When it has simmered about ten minutes, turn the daube on the other side, cover closely and let it simmer ten minutes more. Then cover with sufficient boiling water to cover the daube; or, better still, if you have it, use instead of the water, boiling "consommé" or "pot au feu" and, if possible, a glass of Sherry or Madeira wine; or, if you have neither of these, which are always to be preferred in cooking meats, a glass of good Claret. Season according to taste with salt, cayenne and black pepper. Cover the pot tight and set it back on stove, letting it smother slowly for about three hours, or until tender. Serve hot or cold.

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Cold Daube a la Créole.

Daube Froide, a la Créole.

This is one of the most excellent dishes made by the Creoles, and is always a great standby for luncheons in the winter.

Ingredients: 3 Pounds of the Rump or Round of the Beef.

2 Pounds of Veal Rump.

2 Pigs Feet. ¼ Pound of Salt Fat Meat.

5 Large Onions. 2 Turnips.

5 Carrots. 2 Cloves of Garlic. 3 Bay Leaves.

1 Tablespoon of Lard.

1 Glass of Sherry.

3 Sprigs of Thyme and Parsley.

Salt, Pepper, and Cayenne to Taste.

Cut the salt meat into shreds, roll well in cayenne and black pepper. Chop finally several sprigs of thyme and three bay leaves, one clove of garlic, three sprigs of parsley, and mash well with three cloves and six allspice. Roll the strips of salt meat, which must be about three inches in length and onehalf inch thick, in this. Make incision into the rump of the meat and force in the strips of fat meat and the spices. Then rub the whole well with salt and pepper, judging according to taste, and proceed to cook according to the recipe for Beef a la Mode. Let the daube cook about 4 hours when you intend to serve it cold.

In the meantime, in another pot, place a veal steak of about two pounds, and two pigs feet. Season well with salt and pepper and cayenne, and cover well with four quarts of water, and let them boil. Add one bay leaf, one sprig of thyme, one-half clove of garlic and one onion, all minced very fine, and two cloves mashed into almost a jelly, and one glass of Sherry or Madeira wine. Let these boil well with the veal and pigs feet. Then, when the veal and pigs feet are cooked very tender, take them out of the pot and mince the meat of each very fine; return to the sauce, and again season highly, according to taste, for the flavor depends upon the piquant seasoning. After the daube has cooked four or five hours, take off the stove and pour over the sauce and set all in a cool place. Serve the next day - cold, cutting into thin slices. It will all have formed a jelly that is most delicious and appetizing.

Daube Froide à la Crêole has only to be tried once to be repeated. It is a standing dish for lunch in in every Creole home during the winter, for it is never essayed in summer, owing to the heat weather that would prevent the jellying of the beef. Even when put in an icebox, it is not the same as when made in Winter. It is a dish that may be served with little cost to the fastidious.

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Mardi Gras 2018 The Jambalaya’s Annual Mardi Gras Issue!

It’s time to plan for The Jambalaya’s Annual Mardi Gras

issue!

We are very excited to announce that the entire 2018 Mardi Gras issue will be GLOSSY! Not just the cover!

Excited? We are!

In case you don’t recall how this works, let’s recap the following: Each full color page costs $300. Most krewes choose two pages, which cost $600.

Krewes can get page sponsors by selling four ¼ page ads at $150 (one krewe page free), two ½ page ads at $300 (one krewe page free) or one full page ad at $600 (one krewe page free) or any combination of ads and cash to equal number of pages desired.

Deadline for 2018 Unfortunately, this is a very SHORT season. All copy and photos must be in by January 17 AT THE VERY LATEST. NO EXCEPTIONS! All payments must be in by January 17. Checks need to be made out to Bayou Living Magazine, LLC, for Credit Card payments call Dawn at 337-348-2958. Also Cash will also be excepted.

Photos must be emailed in a jpeg format to … jambalayanews@gmail.com . We will not scan photos. Photos need to be emailed directly not in a word document with your articles. If you don’t have capability of email and prefer to bring them to us be sure it is on a portable USB or SD card.

You already know who’s on your courts, so start sending bios in NOW! A suggestion on article word count: Keep in mind that the longer the article, the smaller your photos will be. Less words, bigger photos! If you want one page, then your article should be around 600 words. For two pages, approximately 1,000-1,200 words TOPS. You want to show off those beautiful color photos, don’t you? Again, this is just a suggestion, but worth considering, and keep in mind that we do edit for space.

For more information, email Dawn at — jambalayanews@gmail.com or lauren@thejambalayanews.com You can also call Dawn at 337-348-2958.

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Russell Pawlowski

Cajun Shrimp & Bacon Chowder What if you took all your favorites and put them in one pot.

Well that’s exactly what Chef Red Head did with this delectable treat. I love corn, bacon and shrimp so why not make a traditional corn chowder Red Head style. This will be a meal that the whole family will enjoy with this cooler winter weather on its way.

Ingredients 5 slices Hickory Smoked Wright Brand Bacon, cut into small pieces 1-pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined ¼ cup heavy cream 2 cups chopped yellow onion 1 tablespoon fresh minced garlic 1 teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon dried thyme Pinch Cajun Red Head season all 2-1/2 cups frozen corn kernels 3 cups chicken stock 1 cup half and half Salt and pepper, to taste Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish, if desired

Add paprika, Cajun Red Head season all, thyme, salt and pepper.

Cook, stirring frequently for 2 minutes.

Add corn, chicken stock and half and half. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes.

Using a blender, blend about half of the soup adding 1/8 of a cup of heavy cream until creamy. If you don't have an immersion blender, blend 2 cups of soup in a blender and pulse until creamy (exercise caution while blending hot liquids - blend small amounts at a time using remaining heavy cream and hold down the top of blender pitcher while blending and return to pot and stir well.

Serve with shrimp and sprinkle with bacon pieces. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs, if desired. Enjoy!

Instructions In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, fry the bacon pieces until crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.

Drain off fat from pot, leaving 1 tablespoon.

Add shrimp to the pot and cook until pink (about 3-4 minutes), stirring frequently. Remove shrimp with a slotted spoon and add to the plate with the bacon. Leave juices in pot.

Add onions and garlic. Sauté for about 3 minutes, or until onions are soft and translucent.

The Jambalaya News

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Dining Guide

Table …

Come Have A Seat

By Dominique Dugas —

Charleston Bistro Wine & Dessert Bar The city of Lake Charles has a unique history. From the early to mid-1900’s, the city saw much growth throughout downtown area. As time went on, shopping and retail moved further south, and downtown became more of an afterthought.

It wasn’t until the past decade or so that this part of the city has grown to the forefront. Today, many businesses are setting up shop in this area. With the appreciation of the many historic downtown buildings and nods to previous decades, it is essential to keep our past alive while still enjoying the comforting touch of modern times.

The Charleston Hotel, erected in the late 1920s, has stood the test of time. Today, we relish in its architectural beauty as well as the history that we can feel from the moment we walk in the front door.

One dreary day, I shuffle inside the Charleston. The warm interior is welcoming, and its history is so present that you can almost feel it, especially during the Christmas season. I go up the elevator and onto the second floor which overlooks the main lobby with garland, lights and lots of decorations.

It’s truly breathtaking.

These days, the building now serves as private residences, office space, ballrooms for private parties/events, and of course, the Charleston Bistro is located on the main floor.

I walk into the office of Jake Stutes, the owner of the Bistro. Stutes is no stranger to hard work, and this isn’t the first time he’s taken over a building with such a significant past.

Originally born in Sulphur, Stutes would see his grandmother work in her donut shop and would help her most of his young life. “I worked with my grandmother since I was little. I basically grew into it,” he says. Eventually, he would open Jake’s Deli & Bakery in Sulphur and would soon take over the Governor’s Mansion on Broad Street.

Stutes says that most of his business ventures, like most good ones, happened on a whim. He initially decided against taking over the Governor’s Mansion, but was fortunately talked into it. “I’m glad that I did it now, because that was like the birthing canal for The Charleston,” he says. He never thought that he would be interested in the opportunity until it presented itself.

First opened in January 2015, the Bistro initially only served light lunch dishes whereas now, the menu has progressed into a complete restaurant menu with appetizers, lunch and dinner entrees, desserts, a bar, and wine.

“The plate lunch era is dead [for us]. When we started it The Jambalaya News

was just so light and something simple for lunch. Like a sandwich, soup, salad, in a plate lunch. Now, it has totally evolved into a full-fledged restaurant. Which I find easier, believe it or not,” he explains. The hours of operation were also extended from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. to compliment the new and sophisticated menu.

Some appetizers worth noting are the Fried Green Beans or their Southern Egg Rolls, which is served with a creamy Pesto sauce.

The menu has evolved into endless options of mouthwatering, home cooked food. When asked about his favorite entree, Stutes was hesitant at first, but then started naming some of his favorites. “I honestly couldn’t tell you… I mean, I like it all. The Tenderloin Beef Tips are amazing!”

He also went on to rave about The Charleston Pasta, which includes bowtie pasta mixed with sautéed shrimp, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, bell peppers, purple onion, Parmesan cheese and mushrooms tossed in a butter cream sauce.

The Charleston Shrimp (battered and fried Gulf shrimp served with marmalade sauce) is perfect for the entire table to share. Or try the Crab and Artichoke Dip, which includes fresh crabmeat and is served with golden fried crusted bowtie pasta.

The Spinach Chicken is seasoned, sautéed and stuffed with creamed spinach with a creamy butter sauce drizzled on top.

Wouldn’t you love to take a bite out of their Signature Crab Cakes? A crusted and lightly fried crab cake is plated on top of a bed of baby spinach. A jumbo Gulf shrimp tops the entree along with the house creamy butter sauce.

You can still keep it a little lighter if you want, with the Sweet Grilled Chicken Salad. Sliced fresh strawberries, blueberries, candied pecans, cucumber dried cranberries, and grilled chicken all sit on a bed of mixed greens. They have options for dressings, but the house recommends their raspberry vinaigrette. That salad option is a contender for me the next time I dine at the Charleston.

After you polish off your entree, you will hopefully have some room for dessert. The Charleston does it right. They have so many options including Chocolate Mousse Truffle Cake, Bistro Filled Chocolate Bundt Cake, and the Bistro Bourbon Pecan Pie, to name a few. The actual list is quite

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Dining Guide

extensive.

Initially, Stutes just wanted to renovate a little and possibly only served mixed drinks to his already existing menu. Of course, plans do change and the overhaul into a more sophisticated menu with “heavier” options led to a complete change in the beverage department as well.

The bar, which went under extensive renovations, turned out beautifully and serves up some tasty specialty dessert cocktails. “I think the wine bar and the specialty dessert drinks have been the biggest hit,” Stutes says. The handcrafted cocktails are perfect for polishing off your delicious meal in a beautiful lobby.

The Red Velvet Martini is a house favorite along with their Caramel Apple Martini and Tiramisu Martini. Other tasty specialty drinks are the Chocolate Dipped Candy Cane, Dark Cherry Bourbon, and White Chocolate Martini.

As far as wine goes, The Charleston Bistro has over 40 different options for you to choose from: Red, white and

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sparkling. “Oh yeah, we definitely have wine,” Stutes jokes.

The Charleston does offer catering options for your next special event. And they take care of everything, from, the food, to the linens, florists and everything in between. They also offer holiday gift baskets and trays with an assortment of delicious chocolates and treats.

With the holidays upon us and as the weather outside becomes frightful, The Charleston Bistro is the perfect stop to take a break, enjoy the beautiful ambiance and indulge in a mouthwatering entree, dessert or handcrafted dessert cocktail.

The Charleston Bistro closes on Sundays; however, they are open 10 AM-10 PM Monday through Friday and 4-11 PM on Saturdays. For more information, check out their Facebook @CharlestonBistro or call (337) 602-6304.

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Dining Guide

Nina P’s

1600 W. McNeese Street, Lake Charles, LA 337–474-6462 | www.ninapsafe.com At Nina P’s Café, we have great home-made southern-style plate lunches, dinners, burgers, New Orleans style po-boys, gumbo, etoufee and much much more! We’ve now added a special Saturday Brunch to our menu! Serving some of the best breakfast in town! Some of our specialty are so mouth watering you’ll have to try everything on the menu, such as our Crepe C’est Tu, Cajun Monte, Omelet C’est Tu, Nina’s Eggs Benedict to the Cajun Eggs Benedict! Not to mention drinks like The Big Crispy, which is glazed donut-flavored vodka and coffee served with a sugared rim or the Raspberry Sparkler, which is raspberry vodka and champagne & everyone's favorite Bloody Mary!

Sassy Oil & Vinegar

4310 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 337-540-1408 www.sassyoilandvinegar.com Sassy Oil & Vinegar has recently opened a cafe inside The SEED Center Lobby. They have a coffee bar with a 75-cent cup of coffee for a quick cup of Joe on the Go. Their menu includes sandwiches and salads made to order. Two-egg omelets are also available with your choice of add-ons.

One of the unique features of the cafe is that their menu changes weekly, with one new item included each week. It can range from healthy varieties of chicken salad and avocado chicken toast to the not-so -healthy Super Deluxe Nachos and Frito Pie. They also sell bottles of oils and vinegars with flavor cards to give you ideas on how to use them. They like to say, "It's OK to play with your food!”

Look for Sassy Oil & Vinegar to go on Waitr in July.

The Jambalaya News

Spoonful of Sugar

1155 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

337-488-9315 Spoonful of Sugar is perfect for any occasion. If it is for a planned event are just stopping for some daily sweets they have what you are looking for.

With some of the most creative tasty working coming out of their doors they aim to please their clients with everything they do. They also serve a daily lunch special each weekday. They are located downtown Lake Charles and offer a nice clean open dining area. During the holidays don’t forget to order your pie ahead of time because it is the word that they have the best homemade pies around. So head down town this summer and bring the kids for some sweet treats!

Tio Juan’s Fresh Taco’s & More

2211 B Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 337-602-6772 At Tio’s you’ll find friendly smiling faces ready to serve you Breakfast at 6am! Lunch starting at 11am and thru dinner at 9pm! The food is a perfect blend of authentic Mexican and tex-mex. It’s sure to satisfy your taste buds and you can also now get Margaritas and ice cold beer! Tio Juan’s Fresh Taco’s & More is a little oasis that is sure to be one of the up and coming favorite Mexican restaurants in town! They also have a convent drive thru for when you are on the run!

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Raja’s Curry Kitchen & Grill

3821 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

337-476-2777 www.therajasgrill.com The cuisine at Raja’s Curry Kitchen & Grill reflects the food found in modern day India with diverse Indian cuisine. They have a freshly prepared buffet each day. You can get the buffet or order off the menu. The buffet offers some of their most popular foods and is serves fresh and hot. So go on down to Raja’s Curry Kitchen & Grill ready to taste some foreign flavors that will have you come back for more very soon!

The Bad Apple

3436 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 337-474-2294 The Bad Apple invites you to COME TAKE A BITE! They are serving breakfast starting at 7am and thru-out the day Monday thru Saturday. They are also rumored to have some of the best burgers in town! They have many other favorites that they serve during lunch and till closing everyday such as their catfish sandwiches, Grilled Jalapeno Cheese and much more! Also now serving steak on Tuesdays! They have service industry specials as well as 1st responders specials! The grill is open Monday thru Saturday 7am till 10pm.

You can enjoy music and pool while you have a draft beer are one of their many specialty drinks.

Now available on WaitR so you can enjoy at work are home by delivery!

Bayou Living Magazine, LLC December 2017

Dining Guide

Steamboat Bills

1004 N. Lakeshore Dr., Lake Charles 337-494-1070 | www.steamboatbills.com

Listed as one of the top 10 places to eat in the US and voted #1 in the top 20 best restaurants in Southwest Louisiana. Steamboat Bill’s draws in Cajun-Creole-craving tourists and locals alike.

This fast full-service restaurant offers a wide range of Louisiana flavor from fried, etouffeeloaded pistolettes and the locally favored, boiled crawfish to the rivetingly pleasing homemade gumbo crafted from their family recipe. Steamboat Bill’s not only serves highly rated, Louisiana cuisine, but is an outstanding place for fellowship with close friends and family.

Los Ponchos Mexican Grill 2502 Broad St., Lake Charles, Louisiana 337-564-5814 2555 N. HWY 171, Moss Bluff, Louisiana 337-905-1016 520 HWY 397, Lake Charles, Louisiana 337-602-5553

Los Ponchos Mexican Grill has three location in the Lake area to better serve you. They serve an authentic Mexican Tex-Mex menu. They have 2 for 1 margaritas all day everyday. They have a lunch menu for $6.99 with a sweet tea. All of their locations are located next to a video poker right next door. With their great prices, drink specials and great tasting food you are sure to find a unique little place to dine!

December 2017

Bayou Living Magazine, LLC

Sloppy’s Downtown

329 Broad Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana 337-602-6365 Sloppy’s Down town is serving towns best street foods around. They have everything from Pizza, Burgers, Sushi, Sliders, and so much more! They also serve lots of beer on tap! Offering such specials as beer and burger, pitcher & pizza nights!

Recently they added a kids night to their menu.

Kids eat free! They have entertainment for the kids on Wednesdays from 4-8. Another thing they have recently started in Lake Charles was a Saturday Zydeco Brunch! So not matter what night of the week you decide to check them out they have something special for you!

Hackett’s Cajun Kitchen

5614 HWY 14, Lake Charles, Louisiana

337-474-3731 www.hackettscajunkitchen.com If you love boudin, sausage or home cooked plate lunches you’ll want to head on down to Hackett’s Cajun Kitchen. Hackett’s has so many great varieties of boudin that you’ll have to get more than one because it will be to hard to choose! Their sausage is pretty darn good as well! Plate lunch are served daily Monday thru Saturday. If you love Crawfish and Boudin you’ll have to try their special Crawfish Boudin it will take you to Cajun heaven for sure!

Buffi’s Peauxboys

Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp

If you’re looking for a Louisiana Poboy, Buffi’s Peauxboys is the place to go! It’s a little hide away restaurant on the east side of Lake Charles. They serve gourmet, New Orleans style poboys that pack a big punch in flavor.

The options are endless when your searching for southern flavors with a flare. Their speciality is the Boiled Crawfish Peauxboy. You can find us on Facebook. Now available on Waitr as well!

A vibrant atmosphere breathes life into anyone who walks through the doors of Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp! The name alone suggests a casual little vacation from the rush your day might’ve been.

With terrific food, colorful décor, a great downtown location and friendly service—this place is nothing short of a delightfully unique experience.

Vintage brick walls, with memorabilia from times past, offer a virtual exhibit with an undeniable ’coolness factor’! Looking through the menu for the very first time, you’ll know you want to keep coming back — trying EVERYTHING served up by this eatery of special flavors, mixing their own version of Tex-Mex laced with Cajun Flair! It doesn’t get any more special than that!

3620 Gerstner Memorial Blvd.

Suite H Lake Charles, Louisiana 337-656-2883

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723 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana 337-602-6243 | www.tiajuanitasfishcamp.com

The Jambalaya News

Dining Guide

Daigle’s

Strickland’s Spirits & Eats

415 E. Russell Street., Welsh, LA 337-734-4483 Hot-To-Trot in Welsh, Louisiana is now under new ownership! They plan on bringing you the same great daily lunch specials, boiled crawfish & Shrimp as well as adding some new items to their menu soon! So they encourage you to follow them on Facebook and stop by soon to see what’s new! I hear the rumor is that they are adding steaks and gumbo to the menu! So y’all go by and give them a try!

726 E. Russell Street, Welsh, LA 337-734-2500 Daigle’s has you covered for breakfast at 5am and for lunch and dinner until 5pm Monday thru Friday and Saturday from 5am until 12pm. They are serving homemade daily plate lunch specials every day! They are also know for their boudin and sausage for miles around.

For all you hunters they also offer known for some of the best priced deer processing and any other of your needs.

203 East Nezpique St., Jennings, LA 337-246-7411 Everyone is talking about Strickland’s Spirits & Eats. They may be new to town but they are quickly becoming very popular. Everyone is boasting of their amazing burgers and chicken fried steaks, the atmosphere is good, the staff is friendly and they serve adult beverages late.

It’s a place to go for a daily plate lunch are to order off the menu. It’s dubbed to be the gather place to hang with friends. If you haven’t tried it yet you may want to scurry on down and try them out. It may just be your new favorite place.

Cajun Tales Seafood Restaurant

Darrell’s Po-Boys of Jennings & The Crawfish House

Roy’s Meat Market

Richards Hot-To-Trot

501 North Adams Street, Welsh Louisiana 337-734-4772 | www.cajuntalesseafood.com

Cajun Tales is committed to satisfying their customers with great food and excellent service.

They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

They feature a daily lunch special, crawfish pie, broiled stuffed catfish and award-winning seafood gumbo… just to name a few of their great menu selections. They offer a buffet on Friday & Saturday evening and a breakfast buffet on Sundays.

They are also family friendly with a menu just for the little ones. Their menu is full of irresistible Cajun favorites as well as burgers, steaks, seafood, gumbo, red beans & rice and so much more!

Your sure to find a reason to go back soon and try another dish off the menu. Conveniently located right off I-10 in Welsh.

The Jambalaya News

1020 North Lake Arthur Avenue Jennings, Louisiana 337-616-9977 | www.darrellspoboys.com

Darrell’s Po-Boys of Jennings is a franchise from the one in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It is the first and only one like it. The unique thing about the Jennings Location is they also have The Crawfish House connected to it and serve crawfish and shrimp in season. They have ice cold beer bottled are on tap. They serve the same specials that are served in Lake Charles. They are a great location to go sit have a beer and watch the big game during football season.

Everyday from 2-4 you get a chip for a free beer every time you purchase one, that buy one get one free! Stop in for a quick bite are stay indoors and cool off while having a cold brew, hey it’s hot outside!

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401 S. Thompson Ave., Iowa, Louisiana 337-582-2220 This isn’t just your average everyday but butcher shop. They are a specialty grocery store and a restaurant as well. They have daily lunch specials each day of the week it is different serving up anything from shrimp stew, beef tips, pork jambalaya, pork chops & gravy, of course they all have great sides with all their plate lunches, and so much more. They have really great burgers, chicken etouffee, and sandwiches.

They are one of the number one places to go during hunting season to get your meat processing need taken care of as well. So next time you are passing thru Iowa stop by Roy’s and the friendly staff will be happy to get you what ever you choose to try!

Bayou Living Magazine, LLC December 2017

Dining Guide

Life is Too Short for Average Food !

Restaurant Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-9pm Sunday: 12pm-9pm

Buffet Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-4pm Sunday: 12pm-4pm

Best Indian Food in Town!

337-476-2777 | www.therajasgrill.com 3821 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605

Now Serving Brunch on Saturdays 11am-2pm

Roy’s Meat Market 401 S. Thompson Ave. Iowa, Louisiana 337-582-2220

SMOKED & SPECIALTY MEATS BOUDIN CUSTOM MADE SAUSAGE DEER & WILD GAME PROCESSING PLATE LUNCHES SPECIALTY GROCERIES NOW SERVING BURGERS ALL DAY We Now Have Alcohol Steak Dinner & More on our New Menu!

337-474-6462 Great Food * Great Service December 2017

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Dining Guide

PLACE YOUR HOLIDAY ORDERS EARLY—20 DIFFERENT PIES TO CHOOSE FROM. The Holidays Are Here!

3 Locations Moss Bluff HWY 171 337-905-1016 Lake Charles Broad 337-564-5814 Lake Charles HWY 397 337-602-5553 For each stores hours follow on -

Daily Plate Lunches $6.99 with Sweet Tea Two for one Margaritas all day everyday!

NEW HOURS

FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM ALSO AVAILABLE ON WAITR

Thursday—Friday 10am—5pm Saturday—10am—2pm 1155 RYAN STREET, LAKE CHARLES, LA PHONE: 337-488-9315

$1.50 draft beer on Monday Nights … come watch the game with us!

Thursdays after 5pm all Ladies drinks 1/2 Off.

Hours: Monday Thru Friday: Restaurant: 11 am - 2 pm & 4:30 pm - 9 pm.

Bar Area: 4:30 pm - ‘til.

Saturday: Bar Area: 2 pm - ‘til.

Daily 2-4 free chips for every beer you purchase.

203 East Nezpique St. | Jennings, LA The Jambalaya News

|

337-246-7411

1020 North Lake Arthur Avenue, Jennings | 337-616-9977 www.darrellspoboys.com 52

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Dining Guide

Cajun Tales Seafood Restaurant 501 N. Adams St., Welsh LA 60591 | 337-734-4772 Visit www.cajuntalesseafood.com for our complete menu.

Seafood Buffet Fridays & Saturdays 5-9pm Sunday Lunch Buffet 11am-1:30pm

Daily Lunch Specials

Hours: Monday-Closed Tuesday-Thursday 8am to 9pm Friday-8am to 10pm Saturday - 7am to 10pm Sunday - 7am to 2pm

Now Under New Ownership.

Serving …

Boiled Shrimp, Burgers, Fries & More.

Daily Lunch Specials.

Now Serving ….

STEAKS & GUMBO!

Have you tried our Daily Plate Lunches? Follow us on Facebook to see what we are serving!

Breakfast & Daily Lunch Specials. We also service all your processing needs. Best Sausage & Boudin Around!

Monday-Friday 5am-5pm Saturday 5am-12pm 726 E. Russell Ave, Welsh, LA | 337-734-2500 December 2017

Bayou Living Magazine, LLC

Hours: Mon-Fri 10:30am to 2pm Wed-Fri 5pm-9pm Sat 5pm-9pm

415 E. Russell Street, Welsh, LA | 337-734-4483 53

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If you’re looking for a Louisiana Poboy, Buffi’s Peauxboys is the place to GEAUX!

MEET YOUR FRIENDS HERE AND PASS A GOOD TIME PLAYING POOL, SHUFFLE BOARD, FOOSBALL & WATCH FOOTBALL

Buffi’s is located at 3620 Gerstner Memorial Blvd.

Suite H. in Lake Charles Phone: 337-656-2883 Also NOW available on wiatr app order today!

Hours — M-F 10am—8pm Sun-Sat 10am—4pm

WEDNESDAY DRAG SURVIIVOR

$1 OFF ALL MIX DRINKS AND LONG LECK BEERS! OPEN 9PM-2AM SHOW 11:30PM $25 CASH PRIZE FOR 1ST PLACE

THURSDAY KARAOKE W/ KELSHA

OUR FRIENDLY STAFF IS ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE WITH A BEER, WINE OR FAMOUS FROZEN DRINKS!

DRINK AND DROWN $10 BUY IN $1 REFILL ON ALL WELL DRINKS PEN AT 9PM-2AM KARAOKE @10PM

FRIDAY FRIDAY NIGHT DANCE PARTY $3 FIREBALL OPEN 9PM-4AM DJ IN THE MIXX

SATURDAY SHOW NIGHT

4688 COMMON ST., LAKE CHARLES, LA * 474-9019

2 FOR 1 FROZEN DRINKS, DRAG SHOWS ANNOUNCED WEEKLY ON CRYSTALS FACEBOOK OPEN 9PM-2AM * SHOW 11:30PM

$1 DRAFT BUDLIGHT $5 PITCHERS $2 JELLO SHOTS ALL THE TIME. 112 W. BROAD STREET, LAKE CHARLES December 2017

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JOIN US FOR KARAOKE FRIDAY & SATURDAY!

| 433-5457 55

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711 Enterprise Blvd.

Lake Charles, LA 70610 www.ryansperformance.net

Open 24 Hours a Day 7 Days a Week

Best Prices in Town

Low Prices On — Beer & Wine Alcohol Cigarettes Tobacco Icee Gasoline & Diesel 99 Cent Fountain Drinks w/ Crushed Ice Bagged Crushed Ice $1.29 for 8 lbs.

Hunts Brothers Pizza & Chicken Wings

We’ve got all Your performance needs covered.

Call 337-656-2072

Evan’s Jennings Location — 1207 S. Lake Arthur Ave., Jennings Fishing Supplies & Bait—Live shiners, worms & frozen bait.

Iced Single Beers Alexis’ Diner offers—Video Poker, Fried Chicken, Hamburgers & also available on Waitr App. Store is open 6am—10pm Soon

Evan’s Corner Store 5th Ave., Opening Soon on Location!

5th Ave For Your To serve you better!

Convenience — 4252 5th Ave Lake Charles, LA Iced Single Beers, Beer, Wine, & Liquor.

Cigarettes & tobacco products.

Gasoline & Diesel.

Krispy Krunchy Fried Chicken, Hamburgers, Boudin, Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice and More!

The place to stay while hunting in & around Lake Arthur, LA! Call to reserve your room today 337-774-7249 233 Arthur Ave Lake Arthur, Louisiana The Jambalaya News

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John O’Donell is our Sneaux Day picture 1st place choice with this picture taken in downtown Lake Charles, LA.

The Walker’s Moss Bluff, La

A Louisiana Snow Day! It’s a mush land in the winter! :) Merry X-mas!

Robert LeGros Westlake, La.

The Carlton’s Lake Charles, La. The Jambalaya News

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Snow Angels in Elton, Louisiana!

Mechanical Snowman Mandeville, Louisiana!

Zoey Salters Lake Charles, La. December 2017

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SOCIETY SPICE Oil Center’s Festival of Lights Written and Photographed by: ‘The Spice Girl’…Marilyn “Pepper” Brunt WHAT: Oil Center’s 24th Annual Festival of Lights WHEN: Friday, December 1, 2017 WHERE: Lafayette, LA

Santa was there, so was Mrs. Santa Claus, and even Rudolph showed up with his nose so bright! There was definitely a feeling of Christmas time in the city as people were dressed in holiday style and kids were laughing, meeting smile after smile. I know this is similar to Bing Crosby’s ‘Silver Bells’ song released in 1951, but it’s still true today!

The Lafayette Oil Center was alive with twinkling lights as everyone gathered for the annual lighting of Santa’s sleigh and his nine reindeer on the Lafayette General Medical Center’s Skywalk, high above Coolidge Street.

People of all ages were in attendance and all eyes were focused on Santa’s sleigh awaiting the official lighting. Cheers could be heard throughout the streets as the lights came on. There was something magical about everyone gathered in unison and peace for this special event that is actually considered the official beginning of the holiday season in Acadiana.

The name “Oil Center” refers to an area of Lafayette that was coined many years ago to designate where businesses related to the petroleum industry were located. It is still the hub of activity for many oil and gas related businesses but also an area of Lafayette that has become home to many merchants, medical facilities and restaurants. The mission of the Oil Center Association is to aggressively pursue the generation of a positive image and the continuing vitality of this historic district. I think they accomplished their mission on this particular night. Businesses were bustling as shoppers were checking items off their Christmas shopping lists.

Outdoors, kids and adults were entertained by face painting, carnival games, choir groups singing and even trolley rides.

Santa had a steady stream of children waiting in line to tell the jolly man in the red suit what they would like for Christmas. Mrs. Claus made a rare appearance with Santa and enjoyed handing out candy canes to all the children and having her picture taken with them.

She was very festive in a red velvet dress with white fur collar and cuffs. She is available to read stories and sing for your gathering by calling her at 337-654-0571 (Rose Hoffman Cormier, mmonreaux@lusfiber.net).

The Jambalaya News

Get Spicy with Society Spice

We can’t forget about Rudolph! His nose was shining so bright as children gathered around him to take photos.

The entire boulevard was such a delight of colors and was the perfect setting to enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride. Brent Stantz with Vintage Carriage Company (vintagecarriagecompany@yahoo.com) was very busy on this particular evening. He and his team arrived from Welsh, LA with their horses and carriage and rolled non-stop for several hours insuring that everyone in line could experience such a unique carriage ride through the Oil Center.

We were fortunate to have a super moon visible on this beautiful night. The Lafayette Science Museum used this opportunity to set up one of their telescopes for festival-goers to observe the craters on the moon.

It felt like you could almost touch them! It was awesome!

Hot Chocolate by Mello Joy was another busy booth.

I mean, what’s Christmas without hot chocolate and marshmallows?!

Everyone seemed to be sipping this warm concoction as they watched Jason Lewis from New Orleans carve a huge chunk of ice into a candy cane with a chain saw.

He was quite an artist as he meticulously used the tip of the chainsaw to carve a huge block of ice into Frosty the Snowman also! If you’re interested in astounding your guests at your next event by adding an ice sculpture, then you’re gonna want to contact him at: jlewisicecarvings.com or in NOLA at 504-7155643.

The Oil Center Association even had a door decorating competition for the local businesses. Good Eats Kitchen won “Best Front Door Display” with their realistic looking lit train engine. They’re someone that you might want to consider getting to know. Their fresh, healthful, chef prepared meals can be picked up at 1116 Coolidge Street, Suite F or ordered online by contacting them at www.mygoodeatskitchen.com for delivery.

Gigi has never been known to pass up a candy shop, so we stopped by Lolli’s Chocolates at 1116 Coolidge Ste D. Chocoholics were overwhelmed with the abundance of choices to satisfy their sweet tooth. Brightly decorated gift baskets are available to purchase or have one custom made. A gift card from here is definitely going on Gigi’s Christmas list.

Overall, the event was a huge success and I’m looking forward to attending it next year! I hope you will join me and put a little “spice in your life”!

Heaux, Heaux, Heaux!!!

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December 2017

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Put some spice in your life! If you want to see us at your event and be featured in Society Spice please email us at : jambalayanews@gmail.com

THE BUZZ Simon Named Up & Coming Business Woman

Erika Simon, Vice President of Family and Youth Counseling Agency, was chosen at the 2017 Up & Coming Business Woman by the Woman’s Business Network and the Chamber Southwest Louisiana. An Up & Coming Business Woman takes her industry and the community by storm. They are active volunteering, participating in industry events, and lending their voice to the change that is happening in our region. Simon has been employed with Family and Youth Counseling Agency for 11 years where she began in an entry-level position. She is currently the Vice President of the Children’s Advocacy Center and Court Appointed Special Advocates, both divisions of Family and Youth.

CHRISTUS St. Patrick Employees Donate $325K to the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation The CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation held a dedication and blessing of a donor wall, located in the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Cafeteria, to honor the 219 CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital Associates who raised more than $325,000 for the “From Our Family to Yours” Associate Campaign that was a part of the Healthcare and Hope…Here at Home Capital Campaign. Associates pledged money to ensure that residents of SWLA have access to the healthcare they need at home. For more information on the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation, call (337) 430-5353 or visit stpatrickfoundation.org.

Stockwell Sievert Law Firm Welcomes Two New Associates Stockwell Sievert Law Firm is pleased to announce that Peyton F. Pawlicki and Alex E. Mouhot have joined the The Jambalaya News

firm as associates. Pawlicki attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville before returning home to New Orleans, where she graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Arts in History. After three years as a high school teacher, she then attended the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center where graduated cum laude from LSU Law in 2017 with her Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law. Mouhot attended LSU for his undergraduate studies, graduating in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Disaster Science and Management. In May 2017, he received his Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU, graduating cum laude.

Jeff Johnson Joins CSE CSE Federal Credit Union’s Chief Lending Officer, Bob Rust recently announced the addition of Jeff Johnson as the new Interim Construction Loan Officer. Johnson comes to CSE FCU with over 40 years of experience in the financial industry and 20 years as a Branch Manager at JD Bank; his area of expertise is in construction lending. For all of your interim construction lending needs, call (337) 5623221 and speak with Jeff Johnson today. Visit csefcu.org to learn more.

SOWELA Incorporates an Anatomage Table into Curriculum. SOWELA Technical Community College recently acquired an Anatomage Table for its School of Nursing and Allied Health thanks to grant funding. As the world’s first virtual dissection table, the Anatomage enables students to virtually view the systems, organs, and tissues of a variety of cadavers. It is used for classroom instruction in anatomy, pathology, and normal and abnormal clinical case studies.

The Anatomage Table is proven to improve test scores as students gain hands-on experience with a virtual cadaver that helps them better understand how the body works and functions as a whole.

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L’Auberge Donates to Chamber SWLA L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles hosted the Chamber SWLA Women’s Business Network Luncheon recently. As the Title Sponsor, L’Auberge contributed $5,750 toward use of event space, food and beverage and more. This annual awards luncheon recognizes established and up and coming business women from Southwest Louisiana and the great contributions they make to our community.

SkillsUSA competition and the American Advertising Federation’s “Addy Awards.” The coalition of independent artists known as SWLArt took home the award for Arts Organization of the Year, and Mayor Hunter honored Danny Allain as Artist of the Year for the final award of the evening.

Home Health Agency of WCCH Recognized The Home Health Agency of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital has been named a 2017 Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Honors elite recipient, a prestigious award recognizing home health agencies that continuously provide the best patient experience. HEALTHCAREfirst, formerly Deyta Analytics, identifies Honors recipients by evaluating performance on a set of 19 satisfaction indicator measures. HEALTHCAREfirst holds a special recognition, HHCAHPS Honors Elite, to honor home health agencies, such as WCCH, scoring above the HEALTHCARE first National Average on all19 of the evaluated questions.

(L-R): Michael K. Pendergast, L’Auberge Casino Resort Vice President & General Manager; Michelle McInnis, SWLA Economic Development Alliance Regional Business & Workforce Development Director.

Mayor’s Arts Award Winners Announced For 2017 The Arts Council of SWLA and the City of Lake Charles recognized contributions from the area’s creative workforce during the annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. Mayor Nic Hunter presented awards to area leaders from the arts community in seven categories. Devin Morgan, Exhibit Coordinator at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, was recognized with the Keystone Award, which is given to an individual who acts as the hinge for many productions and events. The Citizen of the Arts award was presented to Patricia Prudhomme, a driving force behind the growth of McNeese’s Banners Series since 2012. Local historian and author Adley Cormier was recognized with this year’s Citizen of the Humanities award. The Patron of the Year award was given to Magnolia LNG, a company that recognizes the importance of corporate responsibility in giving back to the community. Mayor Hunter awarded the Arts Educator of the Year to Sowela graphic design instructor, Darrell Buck. Through his five years at Sowela, Buck has led dozens of students to medals in the Louisiana

December 2017

Bayou Living Magazine, LLC

The Calcasieu Parish Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy completed its 118th Basic Academy by conducting graduation ceremonies recently for 34 officers representing 12 agencies in the five-parish area. Thirty-two officers completed 456 hours of instruction in all phases of basic law enforcement, one officer completed a transition course of 249 hours of instruction, and one officer completed a refresher course of 140 hours. All 34 law enforcement officers passed the Louisiana Peace Officer Standard Testing exam and are now certified as Basic Peace Officers.

Entergy Louisiana, LLC will ring in the New Year in Jefferson Davis Parish with the start of an approximately $100 million technological upgrade to its electric power transmission grid. The project will enhance reliability, increase transmission capacity and help ensure the availability of affordable power now and into the future for the parish. Construction will begin in January 2018. The upgrade covers approximately 900 square miles, almost all of which is within Jefferson Davis Parish, and encompasses the construction of some new transmission lines as well as rebuilding many existing lines.

Both the new and rebuilt sections of line will use steel structures that can withstand winds of up to 140 miles per hour and employ reinforced highvoltage wire that will move power more reliably and efficiently.

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Events …

Mardi Gras 2018 Twelfth Night Jan. 6 Mardi Gras makes its flamboyant entrance with the Twelfth Night Parade Extravaganza inside the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. There will be a lively, mini-parade featuring members of Krewe of Krewes under the direction of Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 7. The audience has a chance to win grand prizes, dance and hail the kings and queens of more than 60 krewes. Guests in the Twelfth Night audience who find "babies" in their pieces of King Cake, win lavish grand prizes. Tickets are $6 in advance or $7 at the door. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Joseph's Electric, Gordon's Drug Store and Party Time Store on Lake Street. (337) 425-8623 Krewe of the Golden Years Senior Citizens’ Dance Jan. 16 Senior citizens who have passed down Mardi Gras traditions celebrate the season with food and a Mardi Gras ball. Free to seniors 60 and up. 8 a.m. – noon at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Free to those 60 years of age and older. For more information, contact the Calcasieu Council on Aging at (337) 474-2583.

Vinton MG Celebration and Gumbo Cook-off Feb. 3 Vinton will usher in the Mardi Gras season beginning with the Knights of Columbus hosting a gumbo cook-off at 10 a.m. and a parade at 1 p.m. starting at starting at Vinton Middle School and ending at Knights of Columbus Hall where the gumbo judging will begin at 2 p.m. Free gumbo tasting begins after the judging. (337) 589-7453 Sulphur Mardi Gras Parade Feb. 3 The City of Sulphur's Mardi Gras Parade will consist of Mardi Gras Krewes, merchants, individuals, groups and organizations, and the route will be from Cypress Street through the S-Curve to South Huntington Street. Mardi Gras festivities will begin at noon in Heritage Square. Stay after the parade for the King Cake Taste Off from 3-5 p.m. To sign up for the parade or for more information, contact Sulphur City Hall at (337) 527-4500 or email mayorsoffice@sulphur.org.

Lake Charles Mardi Gras Chicken Run Feb. 4 Follow the parade of horses, ATVs, and floats along the Lake Charles Civic Center at 1 p.m. After the parade, enjoy a Mardi Gras concert featuring a variety of Zydeco musicians, which begins at 4 p.m. For more information, call (337) 6601050 or email lakecharleschickenrun@yahoo.com.

Lighted Boat Parade Feb. 8 Head to the Lakefront Promenade and be dazzled by the The Jambalaya News

glowing boat parade on shimmering Lake Charles. Starts at 7 p.m.

Mardi Gras Merchants’ Parade Feb. 9 Local business leaders and social organizations take to the streets on festive Mardi Gras floats from the Lake Charles Civic Center to Ryan Street, ending at Sale Road. Begins at 7 p.m.

Gumbo Cook-off Feb. 10 The public tastes from every pot of chicken and sausage, seafood or wild game gumbo in a hot contest of more than 60 teams on Sat., Feb. 10, at the Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Amateur and professional teams will stir up hundreds of gallons of gumbo and serve it at the Cajun Extravaganza and Gumbo Cook-off.

The event is a must-be-there mix of award winning food, floor-stomping music, and the down-home spirit of Mardi Gras. Gumbo contestants begin cooking at 7:30 a.m., and judging is at 11:30 a.m., with gumbo served immediately afterward until 1:30 p.m.

Admission is $5, and gumbo-lovers will be able to sample from all the different gumbo pots. For more information on the Gumbo Cook-off, contact Katie Harrington at (337) 5269009 Krewe of Omega Parade Feb. 10 The Krewe of Omega Mardi Gras parade will be held in downtown Lake Charles at 2 p.m. The krewe was formed to bring Mardi Gras activities to the black community. To this day, it is the only Southwest Louisiana krewe to hold its own parade. It is held each year on the Saturday prior to Mardi Gras.

Krewe of Barkus Parade Feb. 10 A parade of costumed pets and their owners makes for a whimsical, carnival atmosphere. The title of "Mystical Dog" is given to the most strikingly costumed participant. One of the most highly attended parades during the Mardi Gras season, the day-time parade attracts pet-lovers and families. Call (337) 439-3300 to enter your dog. Entry fee applies. Begins at 3 p.m. at the Lakefront Promenade.

Krewe of Illusions Presentation Feb. 10 Celebrate Mardi Gras with the annual presentation of the Krewe of Illusions at the Rosa Hart Theatre at the LC Civic Center at 7:30 p.m. For the $30 orchestra seats (formal attire required, as it includes entrance the ball afterwards), call William at 436-5843. $18 balcony reserved seating and $15 standard balcony seating (casual attire) can be purchased at the Civic Center box office or Party Time store. Begins at 7:30 p.m.

Children’s Day Feb. 11 Children's Day, a free event open to children ages 3 to 11, combines Mardi Gras fun with culture, music and learning on Sun., Feb. 11, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall. Includes exhibitions of per64

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forming arts, technology and science, safety and health, and arts and crafts-all interactive and hands-on. (337) 436-9588

Mardi Gras 2018

Children’s Parade Feb. 11 A purple, green and gold parade in Lake Charles for the young and young at heart. Parade starts at 3:30 p.m. and will begin at the north end of Bord du Lac Drive, cross over Lakeshore Drive onto West Mill Street, turn right onto Ryan Street and continue south on Ryan to Sale Road where the parades will end.

The Jambalaya’s Annual Mardi Gras Issue!

It’s time to plan for The Jambalaya’s Annual Mardi Gras

issue!

We are very excited to announce that the entire 2018 Mardi Gras issue will be GLOSSY! Not just the cover!

Excited? We are!

In case you don’t recall how this works, let’s recap the following: Each full color page costs $300. Most krewes choose two pages, which cost $600.

Krewes can get page sponsors by selling four ¼ page ads at $150 (one krewe page free), two ½ page ads at $300 (one krewe page free) or one full page ad at $600 (one krewe page free) or any combination of ads and cash to equal number of pages desired.

Deadline for 2018 Unfortunately, this is a very SHORT season. All copy and photos must be in by January 17 AT THE VERY LATEST. NO EXCEPTIONS! All payments must be in by January 17. Checks need to be made out to Bayou Living Magazine, LLC, for Credit Card payments call Dawn at 337-348-2958. Also Cash will also be excepted.

Photos must be emailed in a jpeg format to … jambalayanews@gmail.com . We will not scan photos. Photos need to be emailed directly not in a word document with your articles. If you don’t have capability of email and prefer to bring them to us be sure it is on a portable USB or SD card.

You already know who’s on your courts, so start sending bios in NOW! A suggestion on article word count: Keep in mind that the longer the article, the smaller your photos will be. Less words, bigger photos! If you want one page, then your article should be around 600 words. For two pages, approximately 1,000-1,200 words TOPS. You want to show off those beautiful color photos, don’t you? Again, this is just a suggestion, but worth considering, and keep in mind that we do edit for space.

For more information, email Dawn at — jambalayanews@gmail.com or lauren@thejambalayanews.com You can also call Dawn at 337-348-2958.

Taste de la Louisiane Feb. 11 Enjoy pots and pots of traditional Louisiana cuisine ready to be sampled, all for a $10 admission fee at the LC Civic Center. Event is from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Royal Gala Feb. 12 The Cinderella night of Mardi Gras manifests on Lundi Gras, Mon., Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. with a lavish promenade of more than 60 krewes’ royalty in extravagant, glittering costumes before thousands of residents and visitors at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. Advance tickets will be available at Gordon’s Drug Store, Party Time Store, Medearis’ Costumes, The Mardi Gras Lady and the Lake Charles Civic Center Box Office. Tickets are $6 in advance, $7 at the door.

Children age five and younger are admitted free. And tonight’s the night The Jambalaya News’ presents our 2018 Mardi Gras issue! Email lauren@thejambalayanews.com to reserve your space now! Deadline Jan. 17.

Iowa Mardi Gras Run Feb. 13 Catch a chicken at the 38th annual Mardi Gras Run on Tues., Feb. 13 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 503 E Highway 90, in the town of Iowa. Doors open at 8 a.m., the Mardi Gras floats start lining up at 9 a.m. and the parade rolls at 10 a.m.

The parade goes west on Hwy 90 stopping at local businesses and continues going through neighborhoods with the horses following behind to get their ingredients for gumbo and ends back at the KC Hall. The ingredients are then put into a pot with the chickens, and gumbo is served to the riders while the children play from 2-4 p.m. The chicken run concludes with a Zydeco dance. The entry fee is $10 at the door for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. For more information, contact Rodney Victorian at (337) 842-1875 or Kimmy Bellard at (337) 884-1403.

Seven Slots and Motor Gras Parades Feb. 13 In conjunction with Seven Slots Society, jeep lovers unite to roll down Ryan Street in this jammin' jeep parade at 2 p.m.

Next, the Motor Gras parade kicks off at 3 p.m. with hot rods, classics and motorcycles.

Krewe of Krewes Parade Feb. 13 Hundreds of elaborate krewe floats, costumes, beads and more wind through the city in the culmination of the Fat Tuesday celebration in downtown-midtown Lake Charles.

Starts at 5 p.m. Catch some beads and laissez les bon temps rouler!

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The Simple Secret to using Popsicle Sticks! Today is the day that we all learn what to do with those left-over popsicle sticks! Wait, does anyone even eat popsicles anymore? When I was little I would rush to get to the wooden taste of the stick! The craft stores fixed our problems by selling these sticks in packs I will tell ya! I am excited to team up with Kwik Stix for this project and show you how to brighten up your personal space with good ole popsicle sticks. ♥ This is a sponsored post. All ideas and beliefs are based completely off of my personal opinion and I only post products on my blog that I stand behind.

You will need: High Temperature Glue Gun * Glass Candle Holders * Candles * Craft Sticks * Kwik Stix from the Pencil

Group Tired of the endless mess of painting? Fear not! Kwik Stix Solid Tempera Paint sticks take the mess out of painting while keeping all the fun! Simply uncap, twist, and paint! Kwik Stix have a fast drying formula that allow them to dry in 90 seconds (YES 90 SECONDS) while still leaving a paint-like finish! You can also purchase The Jambalaya News

these from your local Michaels stores.

No cups, smocks, water or brushes required. Kwik Stix come in assorted vibrant colors with coverage that won’t crack. Great on poster paper, cardboard, wood and canvas and much more!

Let’s just all take a moment and stare at this beautiful hot pink paint stick! I literally opened it and thought about using it as lip stick! You can’t lie- you thought the same thing as me!

Step one: Paint one side of your popsicle stick with the color of your choice.

I wanted to have a fun theme and a more elegant theme so pull up your britches because it’s gonna be a fun ride with me today!

I was quite surprised to see this product in action and I literally mean this! At first the paint appears wet but then within seconds it starts to dry. It’s the most fascinating product that I have used in a while.

The colors literally come alive once you apply it, which had me thinking. Why didn’t anyone ever make colored popsicle sticks? Just a thought…

I asked myself what kind of picket fence would I would want around my house and if you know me then you know I would pull for” Team Rainbow” but some days I wake up and feel like Cher and my inner sophisticated side comes out, which leaves us with a black picket fence.

The black popsicle sticks kinda remind me of the Nightmare before Christmas. Personally, I would keep these candle holders up all year long and decorate around them! Can I get an AMEN! My imagination is screaming like a kid on Christmas morning thinking about all the things I can create with these paint sticks.

Clean your glass candle holders with cleaner before gluing the popsicles to them. The glass needs to be really clean otherwise the sticks won’t stick properly.

Once you are ready get your glue gun and start gluing them on one by one. If small kids are doing this project, now is the time I would suggest having an adult help out. We don’t want to burn those little fingers. Let your kids color the sticks- trust me they will love it!!!!

I made two passes with my glue gun to make sure there was enough glue on them.

Make sure to press firmly on each stick right after you place it on the candle holder.

I am really in love with these Tempera Paint sticks. They are perfect for people on the go since they dry so quickly, this means no mess for the parents to clean up after!

Not sure what to do when you are busy cooking, cleaning and 66

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working? Throw some popsicle sticks on the table with these paint sticks and you won’t hear a word for hours. Seriously how do I know this? it happened to me, I found myself so zoned into painting them that I didn’t realize I painted much more than I actually needed!

How beautiful are these picket fence candle holders!

Just close your eyes and imagine yourself snuggled up on the couch watching your favorite movie with these just glowing away, pure happiness.

Fill these containers up with candy and treat your guests to a warm surprise.

You are welcome, I just made life amazing for you!

The ideas are endless with these tempera sticks! I can’t wait to try them on paper!

I feel like these belong on the set of a whimsical movie with lightning bugs flying around. Did I mention you could put these on your desk with pencils and pens in them? You can put so many different things in them just use your imagination.

Check out all of the Kwik Stix colors. You can purchase from The Pencil Grip.

I hope you enjoyed this project as much as I did! See you in the next post, until then hugs from my computer to yours!

Don’t forget to follow me on all of my social media channels because I love all of you to pieces!!!!

You can find more DIY projects on these social medias!

You can follow Jade at www.jaderbomb.com December 2017

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By Luke Eddleman

We all love dogs. Well, if you're not a jerk, you do!

I'm kidding... mostly.

Some of my most random knowledge is of dog breeds, their history, origin, and original purpose.

Most of my knowledge came from binge reading dog books at the Beauregard Parish library, while my mom scoured through psychological thrillers.

One dog breed in particular is a favorite of mine, due to this specific breed being the state dog of Louisiana: The Catahoula Cur, or Blue Leopard Dog. The Catahoula Cur became the state dog of Louisiana in 1979. The breed was traditionally used for hunting wild boar. There are several theories behind the origin of the Catahoula. One theory states that the Catahoula is the result of Native Americans breeding their own dogs with mastiffs and greyhounds brought to Louisiana in the 16th century. As for the mentioned Native American dog breeds, it was believed that they were bred with or from red wolves and other already domesticated breeds from Asia.

Catahoulas are great hunters, often protective, assertive, but not aggressive, and are loyal dogs with friendly personalities. They are most notably known for having black spots on grey (blue) or brown (red) fur. Their eyes range from brown to blue, and sometimes both, known as bi-eyed or heterochromia. In many historical accounts, the French told of strangelooking dogs with haunting glass eyes that were used by the Indians to hunt game in the swamp.

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Tic-Tac-Toe

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Tournament Playing

G

I think it’s a big mistake. Having “standard” bet sizes, that is. I see this discussion from time to time in the tournament forums. “What’s your standard raise size at the 120/240 level?” “When there are limpers, I raise three times the big blind plus one big blind for every limper.”

These aren’t quotes from anyone in particular, simply paraphrases of things I’ve heard or seen many times. It’s not my intention to embarrass anyone here. Plenty of good tournament players, far more successful than I, use something like standard bet and raise sizes. I still think it’s a mistake.

The average stack size, and presumably your own stack and those of your tablemates, will be very different at the 120/240 blind level in a tournament with starting stacks of 1500 than in a tournament with starting stacks of 3000, 5000, or 7500. At the very least, you raise sizing ought to take stack depth into account rather than being uniform at a particular blind level regardless of the tournament structure.

The ability to size your bet based on the situation and what you hope to accomplish with the bet is one of the primary factors that distinguishes no-limit from fixed-limit hold ’em.

Deliberately forfeiting this option is bringing a knife to a gunfight.

Every bet or raise should have a purpose. You can and should tailor the size of the bet to suit that purpose. When done correctly, you can even balance your ranges for various sizes so that your bet sizing is not exploitable.

Early Stages Different players have different approaches to the early stages of a tournament. Some people are uncomfortable playing deep -stacked poker post-flop and so adopt a very tight strategy, playing only strong hands and waiting to get more active until the stocks are more shallow relative to the blinds. Others prefer to play many hands when stacks are deep in order to capitalize on the implied odds that weaker players offer.

Your raise sizing can reflect your preferred strategy without revealing any additional information about your hand. If you only play strong hands pre-flop and prefer shallower stacks post-flop, then your default raise size should be large, perhaps four or five times the big blind. This increases the edge that you get from playing a stronger range than your opponents pre -flop, and it reduces their potential implied odds if they happen to outflop your overpair.

If you prefer to play a lot of hands in the early stages of a tournament, then you should choose a smaller raise size of two to three times the big blind. You might even consider making larger raises from early position, when your range is narrower and your strategy more closely resembles that of a tighter player, and smaller raises in late position when your range is much wider and weaker. This reduces the equity you lose pre-flop by playing such a wide range, it gives you more room to

ame ...

Take A Seat maneuver post-flop, and it gives you more options when reraised.

Late Stages Unlike in the early stages, where multiple raising strategies are viable, late game tournament play is primarily about winning pots pre-flop. The size of the pre-flop pot is so large relative to the stacks that even with strong hands, there is tremendous value in winning the pot immediately and without showdown.

This means that your opponents will re-raise or fold more often than they will call when faced with a raise.

Under such circumstances, the optimal raise size for you is the smallest one that induces a raise/fold response from the players behind you. Here’s an example to illustrate this point: Blinds are 500/1000 with a 100 ante. The action folds to you on the button. The SB has 17,000 chips, the BB has 15,000, and you cover them both. Both of these players are cookie cutter tournament grinders who prefer to move all-in any time that playing a hand will mean putting more than 10% of their stacks in the pot pre-flop.

No matter what your hand is, there is no reason to raise anything more than the minimum, 2000. This minimizes the amount that you risk while still forcing your opponents to risk their entire stacks if they like their hands. From there, you can make a decision about how good of a hand you need to call a shove, but there is no reason to invest more money in the pot than you have to with your initial raise.

If the BB had 24,000 chips, then a raise to 2500 would be better, as this would be the smallest amount that would threaten more than 10% of the BB’s stack and thus induce a raise/fold response from him. On the other hand, if you think that BB is a weak post-flop player and you want the chance to play a wide range against him in position, then you should raise to 2000 in order to make a re-raise less likely and a call more likely. Once again, this sizing has everything to do with the stacks and the situation and nothing to do with your actual hand.

Conclusion While taking maximum advantage of an opponent’s mistakes requires bet sizing that is itself exploitable, it is generally possible and desirable to vary your bet sizing in non-exploitive ways. That is, you can choose bet sizes that better advance your strategy at the table without revealing anything about your hand. Such a bet sizing strategy is strictly better than employing a generic size for a given blind level or a generic percent of the pot whenever you continuation bet.

Finally, note that these are only the most common situations.

Hopefully they will serve as examples that will help you to make more intelligent decisions about sizing bets in all situations.

The Poker Lady

COMPULSIVE OR PROBLEM GAMBLING? CALL 1-877-770-STOP(7867).

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